



V 




















« 


% 


4 



t 


i 


1 


» 




4 


\ 


k 


/ 


I 


r- 










I 

THE 


/y^ , 

hli 111 imm I ^ 

/^cc^ 

GREEN ISLAND; 


A 


TALE FOR YOUTH. 


BY 


ALFRED F. P. KIRBY. 

If 



BALTIMORE : 

KELLY, PIET AND COMPANY, 
174 and 176 W. Baltimore Street. 

1871. 



f 





4 .r. V 


« 




t 

^ 4 

A 


.4 





» ♦ 


I 


\ 



>*•#-, - 




^ V • 


< 


I 


' ^ 



II r- 

\ 


# 




ff 


# 


* 


V 


♦ 


A »*A. 


» 


* 




I 


The Green Island. 


CHAPTER I. 

» OTHER of God ! Mother of Mercy! 
Be a Mother to our Reginald ! Star 
of Ocean, shine on him now, and 
guide him to a haven of safety 
.and rest ! ” 

Such was the fervent prayer of Gertrude 
de Tracey, as she stood with her husband 
at the door of their solitary dwelling, which, 
situated on the Sussex coast, at a short dis- 
tance from the beach, commanded an ex- 
tensive seaward view. Their only son 
Reginald was far away on the sea, and as 
they watched the angry waters beat upon 
the shore, and listened to the mournful voice 
of the gathering storm, they feared for the 
peril and trembled for the safety of their 
child. 

On that same day, and in that very hour, 
the voice of one in danger, far away on the 


4 


The Green Island. 


distant Pacific Ocean, rose wildly above 
the roaring of the tempest, Mother of 
Mercy ! Help of .Christians ! Pray for me ! 
Jesus! Mercy I Mary I Help!” he cried, as 
he clung to the broken mast of the sinking 
ship, he and one other, the friend and com- 
panion of his youth, the only survivors of 
the gallant crew. Those who had taken to 
the boats, unable to contend with the fury 
Tof the elements, had perished within sight 
of the ship ; ofithose who had remained on 
board, all but these two had been swept 
from the deck by the resistless force of the 
waves. 

Again a mighty wave poured in upon the 
deck, and agairt the loud cry, “ Mother of 
Mercy, help !” rose amid the storm, for the 
faithful client of Mary, in the horror of that 
hour, next to his firm hope in the saving 
mercy of the Most High, relied with unfail- 
ing confidence on the powerful intercession 
of the Blessed \Trgin Mother. “Mother of 
Mercy !” he criOT, in accents of holy hope, 
“ pray for thy servant Reginald.” 

Yes, it was Reginald de Tracey who was 
thus crying out for help to her whom no one 


The Green Island. 5 

ever invoked in vain, and at the same hour, 
in far off England, his anxious parents were 
on his behalf calling upon the same sweeit 
advocate. The tempest still raged, the 
thunder rolled, the red lightnings flashed 
fearfully over the waves. It was an awful 
interval of terror and dismay. Far as the 
eye could reach over the wide waste of 
waters no land could be discerned, no saA 
appeared in sight; but the child of Mary did 
not despair, and again and again the cry, 
“ Mother of Mercy, help!” was borne by 
angels up to her starry throne. 

“Pray as loud as you like, strain your voice 
to its highest pitch, calling out for help,” at 
length exclaimed his companion, who had 
hitherto appeared sunken in silent despair ; 
“help for us, I tell you, there is none. A 
few moments and we shall be swallowed up. 
If you had ncft held me back I might have 
got into the boat ; but whilst you have been 
preaching and praying, the boat drifted 
away and I saw no more of her, and so 1 
may thank you for all the good I have to 
expect from your prayers.” 

“Hubert! Hubert!” cried Reginald, “speak 


6 


The Green Island. 


not thus. Have you forgotten how often 
we have knelt before the altar of our Lady 
together, how many favors we have both 
obtained, in times past, through her inter- 
cession ?” 

But she helps us not now,” was the un- 
gracious reply, “ now when we are in most 
need of assistance. Has her intercession 
lost its power ?” . 

Hubert!” exclaimed Reginald, ^^her in- 
tercession is all powerful with that Divine 
Son of hers, at Whose almighty command 
the tempest ceased and there canie a great 
calm.” 

“ But, can she save us now, when the next 
moment may be our last ?’’ 

“ She is the Mother of God,” was Regi- 
nald’s reply, as he drew from his bosom, and 
devoutly kissed the Rosary his mother had 
given him on the day of his first commu- 
nion. 

“ Mother o^ Mercy,” said he, “ pray for 
my unhappy friend. What will become of 
him if he perishes in dispositions so un- 
hallowed ?” 

“ Pray on,"' shouted Hubert, expect 
miraculous deliverance till the foaming 


TJie Green Island. 


7 


waters sweep thee from the deck. I will act 
a braver part, make a bold effort, and trust 
to my own good strength.'' 

Whilst he spoke he withdrew his grasp 
from the rocking mast, and apparently in the 
hope of escaping ingulphment in the whirl- 
ing vortex which would soon follow the dis- 
appearance of the now rapidly sinking vessel, 
he uttered a loud shout of self-encourage- 
ment and plunged into the roaring water. 

Reginald raised his eyes to heaven. 
'‘Mother of Mercy, help him,” trembled 
upon his lips, while he clung more firmly 
himself to the tottering mast. 

A wild, loud shriek of horror rose the next 
moment from the deep. It was the des- 
pairing cry of the wretched Hubert. 

“A shark! a shark!” he frantically ex- 
claimed; “Mother of Mercy ! help! help!” 

It was a moment of unutterable horror. 

Reginald tried to speak but the effort died 
away in inaudible murmurs on his lips. He 
listened for a repetition of the cry, but heard 
only the howling of the storm. 

A chillness came over him, his eyes grew 
dim, his soul shuddered with fearful appre- 


8 


The Great Island. 


hension for Hubert’s terrible fate. He 
thought of his own tremendous peril, of his 
fond father, of his tender mother, of his 
happy home, and his heart- sank within him 
but he thought also of his Heavenly Father, 
of the sweet Mother of Mercy, and of the 
true home above, and a beam of hope and 
holy joy passed through his soul. 

But his physical powers were exhausted, 
his hands were benumbed, he was no longer 
able to grasp the mast; he crossed his arms 
in resignation, murmured, “Lord Jesus, save 
me, or I perish. Mother of Mercy, pray for 
me. Blessed Joseph, and thou, my holy 
angel — ” His voice failed, and he dropped 
apparently lifeless, at the foot of the reeling 
mast. 

The following morning dawned bright 
and cloudless. The sea, now smooth as a 
polished mir.ror, glistened in the bright rays 
of the rising sun, and the light-winged 
breeze softly sighing on the perfumed air, 
murmured sweet responses to the matin 
hymn of numerous singing birds, whose joy" 
ous notes arose in harmonious chorus from 
a small woody islet, covered with verdure 


The Great Island. 


9 


and watered by a single river, pure and 
clear, that wound its silver current through 
a charming little valley enamelled with 
flowers of the richest tints, still sparkling 
with the dew-drops of early morning. 

On the shore stood a young man of ex- 
traordinary beauty, supporting a youth who 
was apparently just recovering from a state 
of insensibility in which he had been rescued 
from a watery grave. * 

Reginald de Tracey’s cry to God and our 
Lady and his holy guardian angel, had not 
been uttered in vain. Mother of Mercy, 
help ! ” was mingled with what had seemed his 
parting breath as he dropped at the foot of 
the mast, and he was snatched from the 
waves in the very moment when he was on 
the point of sinking to rise no more. 

The sweet mild voice of the noble stranger, 
speaking words of hope and consolation 
while watching over him with untiring care, 
soon recalled Reginald to a sense of his 
happy deliverance from the perils of the sea, 
and sinking down on his knees, he raised to 
heaven his eyes, overflowing with tears of 
love and gratitude, and gave thanks to God 


lo The Gree?i Island, 

for his wonderful preservation. He thanked 
the Mother of Mercy, too, for he justly at- 
tributed his escape to her all-prevailing in- 
tercession with her Divine Son. 

And then, turning to the stranger who so 
charitably administered to him, he said : 

“Who art thou that so kindly triest to com- 
fort me?” 

“ I am the servant of her whom thou 
lovest,” was the reply, “the devout client ol 
Mary must ever be dear to those who bow 
down before her maternal sovereignty. 
Reginald de Tracey, thou didst not appeal to 
her in vain. The Mother of Mercy was thy 
safeguard amidst the perils that encom- 
passed thee. She pleaded for thee before 
the. throne of God, and the cause she ad- 
vo^^tes never fails to obtain His divine ben- 
ediction. Be faithful ever to thy Immaculate 
Protectress, and her aid will never be denied 
to thee when thou standest in need of it. 
At her command I caught thy inanimate^ 
• form in the very moment when the wild 
waves were rushing with irresistible fury 
upon thee, and conveyed thee to this beau- 
tiful island, where thou mayest securely await 


The Green Island. 


II 


the dispensations . of God s will concerning 
thee, assured that whilst thou art faithful to 
Him, thou wilt never be forgotten by the 
Mother of Mercy. Let thy escape this day 
be a pledge to thee that she can never be 
invoked in vain.” 

“O, truly never!” exclaimed Reginald, 
with fervor. “ But do thou, O dearest friend, 
who so faithfully obeyest the commands of 
our glorious Queen,, tell me who art thou to 
whose care I am so indebted ?” 

We are not strangers to one another,” 
replied the other, with a benignant smile ; 
“on the contrary, we are old acquaintances, 
and our friendship cannot lightly be dissolved. 
Not now,” continued he, adopting a more 
familiar tone, “ not now, for the first time 
does your voice fall upon my ear. Since 
reason first dawned upon your infant mind, 
night and morning yoii have saluted me and 
asked me to protect you.*' 

Reginald gazed earnestly and supplica- 
tingly on the beautiful countenance( of his 
mysterious friend. 

“With the water of holy baptism still un- 
dried upon your brow,” said the angel, for 


12 The Green Island. 

such he was, “ you were committed to'my 
custody by the Most High God. Though i n 
visible, I have been ever your inseparable 
companion, and I have seen with joy that 
you were a favorite child of God’s glorious 
Mother.’' 

“Yes, dearest Mother!” exclaimed Regi- 
dald, “ next to God, is it not to thee I am in- 
debted that now I live ? And thou, my 
angelic guardian, for now I know thee, O 
tell me, teach me how I can best prove my 
gratitude to the Divine Majesty and to the 
sacred Virgin Mother for my wonderful 
deliverance.’’ 

“ Be it your care to have the will of 
Almighty God before you in all you do and 
say, continue to place entire confidence in 
His goodness and the Blessed Mary’s inter- 
cession. Whatever trials you may yet have 
to encounter, remember that Jesus is all- 
powerful in. heaven and on earth, and that 
His Irffmaculate Mother is all-powerful with 
her God and Son.” 

Reginald looked the gratitude he could 
not speak, and for some moments both stood 
apparently, fixed in silent contemplation of 


The Green Island. 


13 

the infinite goodness of God, and admira- 
tion of the glories of Mary. 

Reginald was the first to speak. “Celestial 
guardian of one so little worth, my soul 
acknowledges the consoling truths thou hast 
spoken ; but tell, O tell me, if I may dare to 
make the inquiry, was the Majesty of Al- 
mighty God so grievously offended by the 
impiety of the wretched Hubert, that his 
last agonizing cry, ‘Mother of Mercy ! help !* 
was breathed in vain ? Would not, O, did 
not, the Mother of Mercy plead for him 
then before the throne of her Son ?’* 

“The future,’' mildly answered the good 
angel, “will unfold to you what you wish 
now to learn from me. Wait with patience 
till it shall please God to clear up the mys- 
tery that enshrouds the fate of your friend. 
It is not necessary for you to know more of 
him now, and I must not exceed the com- 
mission entrusted to me. Most pleasing to 
me has been the duty which devolvAl upon 
me. And now, dear child of Mary, I shall 
soon again become invisible to your mortal 
eyes, listen then to what I^say, and with the 
Mother of Mercy for your protectress, fear 


14 


The Green Island. 


not for the future. This small and unin- 
habited island produces an abundance of 
fruit and . wholesome herbs, and you will 
therefore be in no want of means of subsist- 
ence during the time allotted for your stay 
upon it. There are no beasts of prey or 
noxious animals of any description, and you 
will be able, with little difficulty, to construct 
a shelter from the noontide sun and the 
winds of heaven. You will find many things 
washed hither from the wreck, which will 
be of service to you. Be not cast down at 
the prospect of remaining here. You can 
never be lonely if you bear in mind the 
reality of the Divine Presence and the watch- 
ful patronage of Mary. I, too, shall be near 
-•you, though you see me not.” 

While he yet spoke, the fair guardian 
angel grew more radiantly beautiful, and 
extended his shining wings which had 
hitherto been concealed by the folds of his 
garments. 

Reginald dropped upon his knees, and 
stretching out his hands in supplication, ; 
exclaimed, “My father, my mother, who shall g 
comfort them ?“ J 

“ The Mother of Mercy, the comfortress :i: 


The Green Island. 


15 


of the afflicted,” said the blessed spirit, and 
gently bending his glorious head, he waived 
his bright azure plumes, and in a moment 
was lost to sight. 


CHAPTER II. 


jjOTHER of Mercy,” added Eus- 
tace de Tracey, to his wife’s 
prayer for their son, “ Mother of 
Mercy, no one ever had recourse 
to thee in vain.” 

Fear not, Gertrude,” he continued, ad-, 
dressing his wife, “ the gloomy clouds that 
darkened the air cannot obscure the radip* 
ance of Mary , the heavenly star of the ocean, 
and the light of her glory will illumir.e 
the waves and guide our Reginald to a place 
of safety.” 

“ What, then, have . we to dread,” said 
Gertrude, ‘Gvhile our confidence ?n holy 
Mary’s powerful advocacy remains un- 
shaken ? Let us leave him to the mercy of the 
Most High, and the maternal tenderness of 
.Mary the Mother of grace and mercy. It is 


1 6 The Gree7i Isla7id. 

useless for us to stand here gazing on the wide 
ocean. The evening is closing in and the 
wind blows coldly and keenly along the 
shore. Let us return into the house and offer 
up the Rosary in humble hope that our 
hearts may be soon gladdened by good 
tidings of our beloved Reginald.” 

Eustace readily complied with the pious 
suggestion, and the “ Ave Marias " of the 
holy Rosary, on that eventful eve, were 
borne by angels to the starry throne, where, 
seated next to her Divine Son, Mary the 
Mother of Mercy offered to His Sacred 
Heart the fervent supplications of the anxi- 
ous parents. 

The next morning’s dawn beheld the same 
fond parents kneeling in their little oratory, 
and there, before the sacred image of their 
crucified God, they offered up their morning . 
devotions and renewed their petitions on 
behalf of their son. 

Fervent perseverance in prayer brought 
with it increased confidence in the goodness 
of God and the intercession of His Holy 
Mother, and the parents of Reginald rose 
from their knees perfectly resigned to the 


The Green Island. 

Divine Will, and evincing by the placid ex- 
pression of their countenances the calm of 
holy hope and heavenly consolation, on 
which their souls reposed. 

A few brief observations respecting the 
family of Reginald de Tracey, may here 
serve to throw some light on the circum- 
stances under which he was first introduced 
to the reader. 

Eustace and Gertrude de Tracey were both 
well descended, and could trace their lineage 
for some centuries, through ancestors whose 
names stood high upon the historic page of 
England’s chivalry, and in later years 
through illustrious confessors of the faith, 
who had forfeited, not only their hereditary 
estates and honors, but liberty and even life 
itself, for their fidelity to the Church of God. 
Nothing now remained of the ancient pos- 
sessions of the family but a small estate, 
situated on the Sussex coast, and an old 
manor house to which Eustace de Tracey 
had succeeded shortly after his marriage 
with Gertrude, who had for her dowry a 
few adjacent acres. Their income just suf- 
ficed, with prudent management, for the 


i8 


The Green Island. 


maintenance of their little household, which 
consisted of Reginald, their only child, and 
two faithful old domestics, Andrew and 
Lilian, who had come down like heir- 
looms with the ancient manor house, to its 
present possessors. 

Philip Stanley, their nearest neighbor, and 
occupier of an extensive farm, was, like de 
Tracey, descended from a family that had 
been despoiled of its possessions for adhe- 
rence to the old faith, but had retained a 
small competence, which, transmitted to the 
present representative of the line, enabled 
him to maintain a respectable position in 
the world. 

Reginald de Tracey and Hubert, Philip 
Stanley’s son, were friends and companions 
from their childhood, and greatly attached 
to each other, notwithstanding the dissimi- 
larity in their tempers and inclinations, ap- 
parent even at that early age, to the watch- 
ful observation of the parents of both. 
Reginald was high-spirited, but not proud, 
enterprising but prudent, patient, persever- 
ing, and steadfastly attached to the faith of 
his fathers. Young as he was, he stood 


The Green Island. 


19 


prepared, should the sword of persecution 
ever be again unsheathed, to seal his adhe- 
rence to the Church of ages with his blood. 

Whilst yet his lisping tongue could hardly 
articulate, his pious parents had taught him 
to utter with love the holy names of Jesus 
and Mary, and her chaste spouse St. Joseph; 
the hallowed recollections of infantine de- 
votion became deeply impressed upon his 
memory, and “ Mother of mercy, pray for 
me,’" was the constant aspiration, not only 
of his childhood, but of his maturer years. 

Hubert Stanley, on the contrary, was 
daring, inconsiderate, passionate, and self- 
willed, although he was not altogether des- 
titute of some brighter qualities. Carefully 
instructed in religion from his infancy, the 
sacred truths thus early inculcated, remained 
indelibly engraven upon his young heart. 
Heedless, however, and i*mpatient of control, 
he contented himself with a merely passive 
profession of religion, and though he joined 
his parents in their daily devotions, he al- 
lowed himself no time for a single other 
holy aspiration during the day, except when 
his friend Reginald’s oft-repeated “ Mother 


20 


The Green Islaiid. 


of Mercy,” irresistably awakened some hal- 
lowed remembrance in his soul. There 
were even times when he would suffer Regi- 
nald’s importunity to withdraw him from 
some favorite pastime, to join in reciting the 
holy Rosary in honor of the Divine Infant 
and His Immaculate Mother; for proud 
and impetuous as he was, he could see and 
respect in his friend, the virtues he took 
little care to cultivate in himself Hubert 
Stanley, however, was not unforgiving or 
vindictive ; easily provoked, he was as easily 
appeased, and at all times he was ready to 
extend the hand of charity to the poor and 
needy. 

When Reginald was about twenty years 
of age, a ship-master, who chanced to b| 
visiting his relatives in that part of the 
country, understanding from Eustacg^’^de 
Tracey that iiis son had frequently '^hown 
a desire to visit foreign countries,, offered to 
take him on a voyage to South America. 
The captain was well known to-Eustace,''and, 
with his parent’s consent, Reginald joyfully 
accepted the offer so kindly mad|, and lost 
no time in preparing for the . voyage. As 


The Green Island. 


21 


soon as Hubert heard the news, he wrung 
from his reluctant father and disconsolate 
mother, a weeping consent that he should 
accompany Reginald, the captain consent- 
ing to receive him also on board the Ante- 
lope, for so was the vessel named which he 
commanded. 

The necessary preparations for their de- 
parture were soon made, and, having taken 
an affectionate leave of their parents, Regi- 
nald and Hubert departed with the captain 
on his return to the port from whence the 
vessel was to sail. 

The Antelope accomplished her outward 
voyage in safety, and was homeward bound, 
when the storm arose that proved so fatal 
to the unfortunate vessel and her gallant 


crew. 


22 


The Green Island. 


CHAPTER III. 

S EGINALD remained with his eyes 
fixed steadfastly on the bright sun- 
ny cloud that slowly closed over the 
last shining trac.es of the , angel’s 
departure, and when at length it faded 
away, he cast a mournful look around, 
and, for the first time, felt all the loneliness 
of his position. 

“ Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,” 
he prayed,.” to thee do I cry, poor banished 
child of Eve, to thee do I send up my 
sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley 
of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advo- 
cate, thine eyes of mercy towards me, and, 
in this my exile, show thyself a Mother 
unto me, O most clement, most sweet 
Virgin.” 

Whilst he prayed, he felt his confidence 
in Jesus and Mary sensibly increase, and, 
cheered by the consoling hope that broke 
sweetly upon his soul, he began to consider 
how he had best set about providing for his 
subsistence during the period allotted by 



TJie Green Island. 


^3 


Divine Providence for his abode on the 
island. Silently and hopefully he walked 
along the shore, calling upon God, His holy 
Mother, and the bright angel who had suc- 
cored him at his utmost need. 

He had not proceeded far when he dis- 
covered a cask, which he knew contained 
biscuits, a valuable acquisition to him in his 
present necessity. It did not appear to have 
sustained any injury, and, after considerable 
exertion, he succeeded in rolling it to a suffi- 
cient distance from the water to prevent the 
possibility of its being swept away by the 
returning tide. • Carefully noting the place 
where he left it, and making an act of 
thanksgiving to God and our Lady, he con- 
tinued his search along the shore. He 
found the beach in some places strewed with 
various articles of which he stood in much 
need. Among these were large pieces of 
sail cloth and tarpaulin, which he felt would 
prove of great use to him in constructing a 
tent. There was also a chest containing 
seamen’s clothing, together with a blanket or 
two, dripping from the ocean, it is true, but 
which he could soon dry in the sun, that 


24 


The Green Islartd. 


was beginning to get very powerful as the 
morning progressed. Gathering fresh cour- 
age, he proceeded on his way, and at length 
came upon a carpenter’s chest, but what 
delighted him more than anything else was 
to perceive fluttering on the top of a small 
barrel, that was floating very near the shore, 
a tame dove, (the former pet of the Ante- 
lope’s crew), plaintively cooing for assistance. 

“ Colombe ! Colombe !” exclaimed Reg- 
inald, hastening to the water’s edge, and 
extending his arms towards her. The dove 
knew his voice, and, tired as she was, she 
spread her weary wings, and making a 
strong effort gained the land. She was 
nearly exhausted, when, with a faint coo, 
she alighted on Reginald’s outstretched 
arm, but his encouraging voice, and some 
pieces of biscuit soaked in a small stream 
of fresh water that was dropping from an 
adjacent rock, soon revived the pretty little 
flutterer; and Reginald proceeded on his 
way, not a little cheered by the presence of 
a friend and companion, so docile and faith- 
ful as Colombe. More solicitous for her 
safety than his own, he turned from the 


The Green Island. 


25 


shore, and, directing his steps more inland, 
he collected small straight stems of plants, 
not unlike cane, which he discovered in 
large quantities, and sitting down beneath 
the shade of a stately palm, with Colombe 
at his side, he managed, with a pocket 
knife, and some pieces of cord he had in 
his pocket, to construct a tolerably commo- 
dious cage for her, In which she could 
remain in security during the night, of shel« 
ter herself from the scorching heat of the 
noonday sun. 

Having completed his task, and gathered 
some flowers, leaves, moss, and soft silky 
grass, to form a nest for his bird, he placed 
her in her new habitation, with which she 
was evidently well pleased. 

Oppressed with the heat, and still suffer- 
ing from what he had endured the day 
before, he shared with Colombe what re- 
mained of the biscuits he had brought with 
him, quenched his thirst wdth the milk of a 
cocoa-nut, that had been shaken by the 
recent storm from a tree close by, and then 
lay down at the foot of the palm, placing 
Colombe, in her cage at his head, and com- 


The Green Islarid. 


'Z6 

mending himself to the care of God, our 
Lady, and his good guardian angel. He 
soon fell into a profound sleep, from which 
he did not awake for some hours, when he 
rose up with a light and joyful heart, com- 
pletely recovered from the effects of the 
hardships he had so recently endured. 

His first accents were those of praise and 
glory to the Most High, accompanied by an 
Ave to the Blessed Mother of God, with a 
prayer for the patronage of St. Joseph, and 
the assistance of his kind guardian angel, 
and then, after a few moments’ reflection, he 
began to retrace his steps along the shore, 
carrying Colombe in her cage, in which, 
though not a gilded one, she seemed per- 
fectly happy 

The tide in the mean time had receded a 
considerable distance, and Reginald, to his 
no small satisfaction, discovered the small 
barrel upon which Colombe had taken refuge 
in her hour of peril, and which he knew 
contained wine, stuck fast in the sand, and 
near it a tolerably large case of preserved 
meats, so carefully secured that he felt satis- 
fied they could not have sustained any 


■ The Green Islcuid. 2/ 

injury from the water. This, however, he 
soon put beyond doubt, for having with 
considerable difficulty extricated the barrel 
from the sand, and succeeded in getting it 
upon the beach, he broke in its head, and 
filled a large shell with the generous liquor, 
and havmg, with his pocket knife, opened 
the case of meats, he sat down, and, with 
Colombo familiarly perched on his wrist, 
made a very pleasant meal, not forgetting 
the wants of his little feathered companion. 

With all his loneliness, Reginald expe- 
rienced a degree of happiness and content- 
ment which even those who dwelt in the 
palaces of royalty might have envied, so 
perfect was his resignation to the Divine 
Will, and his confidence in the protection 
of his beloved patroness. But, while his 
heart overflowed with gratitude for his own 
miraculous preservation, and the favors 
showered upon him by the infinite goodness 
of Almighty God, his memory often reverted 
to the fate of the brave mariners, so lately 
his friends and comrades, and many were 
the prayers he uttered for the eternal repose 
of their departed souls, and many were the 


28 


The Green Island. 


Aves he addressed to the sweet Mother of 
Mercy on their behalf. 

And there was one whose mysterious fate 
caused him to endure the most painful sus- 
pense, That one was Hubert, the playmate 
of his childhood, the companion of his 
youth, until that last sad hour, when he had 
heard his despairing cries to that gracious 
Mother whom he had blasphemed. But 
she was the Mother of Mercy still, and 
Reginald was not without some hope that 
she had listened to the wretched Hubert’s 
appeal. At length he arose with Colombo 
from their pebbly table, and without further 
delay began to erect his tent,- He was 
pleased to find that the pieces of sail-cloth 
and tarpaulin he had spread upon the sand 
in the morning were now quite dry, and set- 
ting himself to work with a will, he suc- 
ceeded in constructing a tent, rather awk- 
ward and ill-shaped, it must be confessed, 
but still sufficient to shelter himself and 
Colombo until he could at leisure erect a 
more comfortable and more commodious 
habitation. 

The sun had set, and the full moon had 


The Green Tsland, 29 

risen before he completed his task. ' He 
had selected the centre of an olive grove, 
about half a mile distant from the shore, for 
the site, and having succeeded in his under- 
taking to his entire satisfaction, he now sat 
down to rest and contemplate his handiwork 
upon which the moon was shining in full 
splendor. He sat for a time ruminating on 
his own strange adventures, but at length 
other and more impressive recollections 
crowded upon his imagination. He thought 
how on such a night as this the bright 
moonlight once beamed upon the green 
olives in a far-off land, and shed its silver 
radiance on a Mighty One, Whose Own 
Will had laid Him prostrate upon the cold 
green turf, while Blood Divine gushed from 
every Sacred Vein, and God-made Man, 
amidst His Agony of unparalled bitterness, 
offered Himself a willing Sacrifice to His 
Eternal Father. 

Long and silently sat Reginald immersed 
in thoughts like these, and forgetful of 
earthly things, till startled by a gentle rust- 
ling among the leaves of a tree close by his 
side, he cast a look of inquiry around. 


< 30 T he \ Green Island. * 

It was a robin redbreast, . and while he 
gazed with some surprise on the little famil- 
iar creature, it stood fearlessly perched on 
the spray, without manifesting the slightest 
fear. The incident, so unexpected, recalled 
to his mind a legend, which, in his earlier 
childhood, he had loved to Hear his mother 
repeat whilst he was seated on her knee, in 
his far distant English home. In the fulness 
of his heart he repeated it now. 

“THE LEGEND OF THE ROBIN REDBREAST. 
“Beautiful bird, O tell me why , ^ 

Thy red breast wears that crimson dye ? 

Beautiful bird, I ask thee yet. 

Why seems thy breast with blood drops wet T 
Beautiful bird, I ask again, 

Why bears thy breast that red, red stain? 

Sweet bird, has it been always so ? 

The gentle robin answered, ‘No !’ '■ 

“O pilgrim, ’twas an awful hour, 

And sadness hU’d the olive bower. 

And sighs amids': the garden rose. 

That told of more than mortal woes : • i ■ 

That night the footsteps of a God, , ’ 
Gethsemane’s green alleys trod ! 

And He lay prostrate on the earth. 

Whose mighty word gave nature birth, 

And there were none to comfort Him, 

Whose Eyes Divine with tears were dim, 

A little fluttering bird alone, 

Was there to hear the Saviour’s moan,' 


Tile Greeft Island. 


31 


And all it could, with fanning w ings. 

It did to soothe the King of kings, 

And Glory’s Lord that hird caress’d. 

And one rich Blood Drop stained its breast ; 

Then an;;els came from heaven above, 

Sent by th’ Eternal Father’s love. 

And Him ador’d. But since that time 
In ev’ry age, in ev’ry clime, , 

Upon their breast the Robins wear. 

The hallowed stain imprinted there.” 

Having concluded the legend, Reginald 
recited his Rosary, and that duty performed, 
and taking care not to leave Colombe behind, 
he retired for the night into his newly- 
erected habitation ; whilst the pretty robin 
hopped home to his mossy nest, by no 
means disconcerted by the coming of his 
newly arrived neighbors, Reginald and 
Colombe. ^ 



32 


The Greefi Islaiid, 


CHAPTER IV. 

next morning was far advanced, 
when the young lord of the Green 
Island was awakened from a long 
and refreshing sleep, by the cooing 
of the dove, whose cage, for better se- 
curity, he had hung up the preceding 
night just over his head. His first ac- 
cents were those of praise and adoration 
to the Almighty Power who had gra- 
ciously watched over his repose in that 
lonely island. His homage offered to the 
Divine Majesty, his next salutations were 
addressed to the dear Mother of Mercy, 
and, not forgetting to recommend himself 
to St. Joseph and his guardian angel, cf 
whose unseen presence he felt assured, the 
young solitary set about preparing breakfast 
for himself and Colombe. He laid biscuits, 
dried meats, and fruit upon the grass outside 
his tent, and, as he looked around on the 
beautiful scenery which everywhere pre- 
sented itself to his observation, and down 
upon the flower-spangled dewy turf which 
formed his breakfast table, and thought of 


The Great Island. 


33 


the blessings which a good God was pour- 
ing upon him even in that remote corner of 
the earth, his heart swelled with gratitude 
and tender love. 

Breakfast prepared, his next care v/as to 
release his feathered friend from her cage. 
She was perfectly tame, and he entertained 
no fear that she would attempt to escape 
from his protection, and having with the 
Sign of the Holy Cross asked the Divine 
blessing on his food, he sat down upon the 
grass. The affectionate dove fluttered 
around him, till at length she fixed herself 
upon his arm, and the two friends were 
taking their breakfast in perfect harmony, 
when the social party was most agreeably 
augmented by the presence of another and, 
though unexpected, a very welcome guest. 
It was the pretty robin of the evening be- 
fore. The little fellow evidently wished to 
cultivate acquaintance, for he at once com- 
menced picking up the crumbs of biscuit 
that were scattered about, and even ventured 
to feed from Reginald's hand without show- 
ing any signs of fear. Having satisfied his 
hunger, after hopping about for some time. 


34 The Green Island. 

he flew to his perch on an adjacent tree, 
where he commenced singing a sweet and 
plaintive solo, till attracted by his voice, 
several others of his tribe joined in, and in 
soft sweet harmony with melodious voices, 
sang matins to the God by whom all things 
were made. 

In the meantime, having finished their 
breakfast, well pleased with the viands their 
flowery table had afforded, and in perfect 
good humor with each other, Reginald, with 
Colombe perched on his shoulder, made an 
act of thanksgiving, to which she sweetly 
cooed response, and then employed himself 
in securing his stock of provisions, and the 
several articles he had collected the prece- 
ding day, in a grotto at the foot of a green 
hillock that raised its flowery summit near 
his newly erected habitation. While thus 
occupied, he was most unexpectedly gratified 
on opening a small chest, to find that it con- 
tained several books of devotion and reli- 
gious instruction, two or three small cruci- 
fixes, and a rosary, besides pens, ink and 
paper. To him the acquisition would at 
any time have been welcome, but placed as 
he was, he looked on it as a treasure indeed. 


The Great Island. • 35 

Having arranged his casks and packages 
in the grotto, he returned to his tent for 
shelter from the midday sun, where his 
lonely meditations were only interrupted by 
the soft voice of Colombo, sweetly and 
plaintively cooing while hopping around 
him. She was seemingly conscious that 
she was his only companion, and never 
showed the slightest inclination to fly to the 
green woods and shady bowers, where 
orange trees, white with blossom, and flow- 
ering shrubs of many colors, invited her to 
dwell amidst their fragrance. The gentle 
dove was too faithful to forsake her only- 
friend ; and neither the gay plumage, red, 
blue, green and yellow, of the birds of the 
island, nor the harmony of their melodious 
notes, could entice her to any distance from 
him. Long and sadly he dwelt on the 
events of the two preceding days, and agaia 
the gloomy retrospection of Hubert’s un- 
certain fate recurred to his mind, and a sad- 
ness to which he could not give expression 
came over his soul. 

He sat thus lost in bitter remembranc2s of 
the past, and painful anxiety for the future. 


36 


The Gi^een Islajid. 


till the benignant voice of his angelical 
guardian, softly whispering hope and conso- 
lation, spoke interiorly to his depressed 
spirit, gently admonishing him to beware 
of ungratefully suffering his confidence in 
the Divine Mercy to falter after so many 
proofs of the unceasing goodness of God, 
and the maternal love of the Queen of 
Heaven, Reginald acknowledged the jus- 
tice of the admonition gently breathed by 
the viewless and blessed spirit, and with 
reanimated hope exclaimed : 

“ Mother of mercy ! I am indeed un- 
grateful to thee, from whom I have received 
so many proofs of love, but ask thy Blessed 
Son, and He will pardon my want of faith ; 
and do thou, O dearest Lady, pardon my 
ingratitude, and never again let my reliance 
on the goodness of God, and my depend- 
ance on thy gracious patronage, be overcast 
by one shadov/ of doubt.’’ 

His prayer was not breathed in vain. A 
sweet consoling calm took possession of his 
soul, and with a light heart and cheerful 
countenance he exclaimed : 

“ Mother of God ! thou wilt be watchful 


The Green Isla7id. 


37 


over my solitude. I repine not at my abode 
in this island, for I am surrounded by many 
proofs of the divine bounty and of thy care. 
But I grieve that there is here no church 
dedicated to the Most High, no holy priest 
to celebrate the Divine Mysteries or admin- 
ister the sacraments in which alone I could 
find strength and patience to await the 
future dispensations of the Divine Will. 
Thy intercession, however, is all prevailing 
before the Throne of Eternal Majesty, and 
thy prayers^ can obtain that this fair island 
may yet be inhabited by fervent adorers 
of the Triune God, and that hearts faithfully 
devoted to thee, O sacred Virgin, may unite 
their acts of praise and thanksgiving to the 
Almighty with the adoration of the anointed 
priest, whilst the smoke of sweet incense 
ascends before altars consecrated to His 
worship, and requiem and solemn ^dirige’ 
is sung, for the departed souls of the mari- 
ners who perished near this shore." 

Such was the act of confidence in our Lady, 
fervently uttered by her devoted client, who 
did not remain long inactive. Before the 
expiration of many days he had with great 


38 


TJie Greeii Island. 


labor and perseverance constructed a pretty 
little chapel with green boughs tastefully 
intwined, and young trees and flowering 
shrubs closely planted together, and roofed 
with a piece of sailcloth, thickly covered 
with long palm leaves, skilfully plaited and 
carefully arranged. The sylvan edifice grace- 
fully raised its verdant spire, crowned with 
a wooden cross wreathed with flowers, be- 
neath the shade of a lofty palm tree, amidst 
a circle of young olive plants, and sur- 
rounded 'on the outside with a pavement 
formed of pieces of crystal and spars of various 
colors, w’hich he found in abundance in a 
cavern that he had discovered among the 
rocks that in many places overhung the 
shore. 

His next care was to provide his church 
with an altar. This he happily effected 
to his great satisfaction, and tastefully 
adorned it with rare and beautiful shells of 
brilliant color, which he had picked up on 
the shore. He formed a carpet for his little 
sanctuary by cutting green mossy turf, span- 
gled with flowers, which he bordered with 
small yellow and violet shells and finished 
off with a fringe of Indian moss. 


The Green Island, 


39 


It took him some weeks to do all this, 
with no other earthly assistant than poor 
Colombe, who was the faithful companion 
of his labors, and who, hopping and flutter- 
ing about him, from place to place, testified 
to the utmost of her power how willingly 
she would help him if she could. 

There was more work to be done, how- 
ever. The altar wanted a crucifix and an 
image of the dear Mother of Mercy ; neither 
was St. Joseph to be forgotten, nor His own 
kind guardian angel. His diligence and un- 
tiring perseverance overcame all difficulties. 
Among the articles washed ashore from the 
wreck was a box, the property of one of the 
passengers, who was by profession a sculp- 
tor, and Reginald found it contained imple- 
ments suitable for his purpose, neither was 
the practice of the sculptor's art altogether 
new to him. One of his favorite pastimes, 
in the bright hours of his happy boyhood, 
was to exercise his skill in carving little 
images of our Blessed Saviour and His Holy 
Mother, and of such saints as his early de- 
votion most inclined him to venerate. 

He set to work accordingly, and made a 


40 


TJu Green Island, 


handsome cross of wood, sufficiently large 
for his purpose. Then, with one of the small 
crucifixes already rnentioned for a model, he 
succeeded in carving an image of our dear 
Redeemer so beautifully proportioned that 
it might have been attributed to the talents 
of a much more experienced sculptor. He 
was not fess successful with the images of 
the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, and his dear 
Guardian Angel, whose assistance he often 
invoked during the progress of his work, on 
many occasions feeling unmistakeably con- 
vinced that his petitions were not unan- 
swered. 

It took him a considerable time, but patient 
and indefatigable, with Colombe in the kind- 
est tones of her soft sweet voice cooing en- 
couragement, he happily and thankfully 
accomplished the task. 

There were now other things that neces- 
sarily claimed his attention. The weather 
was becoming cold, and the island begin- 
ning to wear a wintry aspect. His habita- 
tion required considerable improvement to 
adapt it to the change of season. He must 
also collect a store of fuel for the winter, and 


The Green Island. 


41 


attend to the preservation of what still re- 
mained of the stock of provisions he had 
saved from the wreck. 

There were some small goats upon the 
island, and though they were very wild he 
had succeeded in catching three little kids. 
These were now becoming quite tame, play- 
ful, and familiar, and would, he expected, 
soon supply him with milk. The river was 
\vell stocked with fish, and he had provided 
himself with a net of his own contrivance ; 
and having discovered in some parts of the 
island rice and Indian corn growing, he en- 
tertained no apprehensions that either him- 
self or Colombo w^ould be in danger of suf- 
fering from scarcity of provisions. 

He had not observed any large birds upon 
the island, and he never once harbored an 
idea hostile to the safety of the beautiful 
choristers to whose daily matins and vespers 
he was accustomed to listen with so much 
delight. 

There were some small parrots in the 
woods, but they were very few in number, 
and did not for a considerable time come 
near his* abode. 


42 


TJie Green Island. 


But to return to the little church. Hav« 
ing exhausted his utmost means in embellish- 
ing and decorating it, he prostrated himself 
in grateful humility and thankfulness before 
the crucifix, and offered his labors to the 
honor and glory of the most Holy 'Frinity, 
and then reciting the Holy Rosary for the 
first time in his church, he offered it up to our 
Lady, dedicating his little temple to her under 
his favorite title of “The Mother of Mercy,” 

And then, his eyes beaming with hope and 
confidence in the Most High, and reliance 
on the maternal patronage of the Mother 
of God, he exclaimed aloud : 

“ Mother of Mercy ! thou wilt offer my 
work, my hopes, and my intentions to the 
Eternal Majesty of Heaven, and thy prayer 
will not ascend in vain before the Throne of 
God. The great High Priest will send hither 
a priest to offer the Holy Sacrifice, the fra- 
grant clouds of incense shall ascend before 
His altar, and faithful adorers shall sing, 
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Host, hea- 
ven and earth are full of thy glory ! Hosanna, 
Blessed is He who cometh in the Name of 
the Lord ! Hosanna in the Highest !’ ” 


The Green Island. 


43 


CHAPTER V. 


I AYS, weeks and months passed te- 
diously away, and brought Eustace 
and Gertrude de Tracey no news 
of their son. The Antelope’s arri- 
val home was long overdue, and fears 
were entertained for her safety. A ship 
that had sailed at the same time from 
Lima, but having occasion to stop for a few 
days at the Chincha Islands, liad parted 
company with the Antelope on the third day 
of her homeward voyage, had reached Eng- 
land in safety ; and her captain, when he 
was made acquainted with the fact of the 
Antelope’s non-arrival, expressed his ap- 
prehension that she had foundered during a 
terrible storm that broke out the day after 
he separated from her. 

Philip Stanley and his wife had almost 
ceased to hope that their eyes would ever 
again rest on their beloved Hubert. Eustace 
and Gertrude, on the contrary, while sor- 
rowing for their absent son, preserved un- 
shaken confidence in the mercy of God, and 
the intercession of the holy Virgin. 


44 


The Green Island. 


“ Remember, O most holy Virgin,” they 
would say, ” that it hath not been heard that 
ever any one had recourse to thee, implored 
thy help, or sought thy mediation, without 
obtaining relief. Inspired with this confi- 
dence unto thee do we fly, O Virgin of Vir- 
gins, our Mother, before thee do we wait, 
sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the In- 
carnate Word, despise not our petitions on 
behalf of our dear Reginald. In thy mercy 
hear us who have recourse to thee, and 
bring back, if it be the will of God, bring 
back our child in safety to our arms.*' 

The appeal did not ascend in vain. One 
bright and beautiful autumnal evening, while 
they were taking their accustomed walk by 
the sea side, they were suddenly startled by 
the appearance of a young man, who was 
evidently advancing to meet them. 

For an instant their hearts throbbed with 
unutterable joy ; “ Was it, could it be their 
son ?’’ A moment convinced them of their 
mistake. 

” It is not our Reginald !” exclaimed 
Eustace. ‘‘But it may be one who brings us 
news of him." They hastened to meet the 


The Green Island. 


45 


stranger. He was young and handsome^ 
with long fair hair flowing over his should- 
ers ; his countenance \vore a gracious and 
an exhalted expression, and benevolence 
beamed sweetly and kindly in the mild lus- 
tre of his large bright blue eyes. 

God and our Lady be praised !” exclaimed 
Eustace, anticipating. “ Thou bringest in- 
telligence of our Reginald ?” 

1 can read it in your happy counte- 
nance,” added Gertrude. “ Our dear Mother 
of Mercy was not deaf to our petitions."’ 

“ Pious and happy parents,” answered the 
young stranger, in a tone of superhuman 
sweetness, “the Queen of Heaven is ind el 
to you, and to your son, a true and faithful 
Mother ^of Mercy, and I am now here in 
obedience tp her commands.” 

The overjoyed parents fixed their eyes 
inquiringly on the radiant messenger, for his 
form and aspect appeared too brightly beau- 
tiful to be of earthly mould. 

“ Give thanks to Almighty God,” said he, 
“and to His Virgin Mother, for the mercy 
which has been shown to your son.” 

“ Blessed be God,’ ’ said Eustace and Ger- 


46 


The Green Island. 


trude, together, “blessed be His Holy 
Name, and blessed be Mary, the Immaculate 
Virgin Mother/' ' 

And then they waited in silence to hear 
what the evidently celestial messenger of 
Mary had to communicate, 

“ Your son," he said, “ has been miracu- 
lously preserved, but his abode is for the 
present in a far-off land, where he is safe and 
happy, living in the presence of God and 
under the continual protection of the Blessed 
Virgin. He is not forgetful of you, but he 
submits with patience, and resignation to the 
Divine Will. You shall live to see him 
again and to bless him, but it will be years 
before that times arrives : submit yourselves, 
then, and leave the future to Heaven.” 

For a moment he was silent. They 
bowed their heads submissively, and then 
the radiant messenger resumed. 

“ My mission is only to remove your fears 
for your son's safety. But there is another, 
of whom in pity to his parents I may speak. 
It is true they commended their son to the 
care of the Mother of God, but their confi- 
-dence in her goodness was weak and waver- 


The Green Island. 47 

ing, and their son, by his neglect and indif- 
ference, rendered himself unworthy of her 
protection. She ceased not, however, to be 
the Mother of Mercy, and when all but too late, 
his agonizing cry, ‘ Mother of Mercy, help! 
help !’ was borne by his weeping guardian 
angel to her celestial throne, and Hubert 
Stanley still lives.” 

Eustace would have spoken, but the mes- 
senger of Mary proceeded. 

“ Farewell, servants of the Mother of 
God; my mission is now fulfilled,” and, ex- 
tending his dazzling plumes, till then unob- 
served, winged his upward way to the 
bright realms of eternal blessedness. 

Eustace and Gertrude watched the flight 
of the angelical messenger, until he was no 
longer visible in the clear blue sky, and then 
returned to their home, their hearts over- 
flowing with joy, gratitude and thanksgiv- 
ing. 

“Alas, poor Hubert!'’ said Gertrude as 
they entered the house. “It pained my 
heart to hear of his ingratitude to the Holy 
Virgin, but I felt consoled when I was told 
that even for him there was mercy. We 


48 


The Green Isla?id. 


may hear good news of him yet. But in 
what way do you think, Eustace, we should 
acquaint the Stanleys with the information 
we have received concerning him?” 

“I was just considering,” said he, and I 
am of opinion that the most prudent course 
for us to pursue, will be to inform them that 
we have been credibly assured by one who 
passed this way, that Hubert and Reginald 
are still alive.” 


CHAPTER VI. 


.TWELVE- months passed away, and 
. Reginald was still the only human 
inhabitant of the Green Island. But 
he was well and happy. His faith- 
ful Colombe was daily becoming a more 
familiar, and it might be said, a more 
intelligent companion; tractable and do- 
cile, in all his occupations, and in all his 
wanderings, the faithful dove was ever at his 


side. The pretty robins, too, had estab- 
lished quite a colony of .their own, among 
the shrubs and trees that surrounded his 
abode, and were his constant and uncere- 


TJie Green Island. 


49 


monious guests, morning and evening, grate- 
fully repaying him with the dulcet harmony 
of their sweet songs, for the entertainment 
they received. 

His three little goats had grown apace. 
They were very tame and gave an abundant 
supply of milk. He had, besides these, a 
tortoise he found nearly half dead upon a 
rock. It was so old it was scarcely able to 
hobble about, but he took it home, treated 
it kindly, and the poor thing was evidently 
sensible of the attention paid to its wants 
and infirmities. 

It cannot, therefore, be said that Reginald 
was very dull and lonely, and as for provi- 
sions, he had fruits in abundance, and could 
have a dish of fish on his flowery table 
whenever he thought proper. He had, be- 
sides, plenty of nutritious herbs and plants for 
every season in the year, to say nothing of 
the bread-fruit tree, of which there were 
several upon the island. With respect to 
his daily occupations, he maintained the 
utmost regularity, spending a considerable 
portion of the morning and evening in prayer 
and meditation, daily repeating aloud the 


50 


The Greeri Island. 


Holy Rosary ; and he was not a little sur- 
prised as well as pleased, after some months 
had gone by, to hear not unfrequent repeti- 
tions of the words, “Hail Mary,” uttered 
very distinctly by some small parrots that 
had built their nest in the trees that sur- 
rounded his little church. 

The young solitary, however, could not 
forget his fond parents, though consoled by 
the assurances of the angel, he did not re- 
pine. He sighed, too, when he thought on 
Hubert. But he had another and greater 
cause for sorrow. He had added to the 
altar a very pretty little tabernacle, which 
he had constructed with great care and in- 
genuity, having collected for the purpose 
several small blocks of variegated and shining 
stone, many of them exhibiting a surface 
brilliant as polished marble, with which, and 
some pieces of rock crystal, he completed 
his undertaking. As he made the best pos- 
sible use of every article the waves had 
washed upon the shore, he was able to fur- 
nish his church with a lamp, having found 
in the carpenter’s chest a small jar of oil. 
The addition of a lamp was absolutely ne- 


The Grecfi Island. 


51 


cessary for the dignity of the church, but he 
sighed when he remembered that the lamp 
would burn before an empty tabernacle. 
There was the altar, but where was the priest 
and the Sacrifice ? There was the taberna- 
cle, but where was He who should be its 
Heavenly Indweller ? He thought of Jesus, 
Mary and Joseph, and a beam of hope from 
heaven shed a bright light upon his soul. 

** Mother of God !” exclaimed he, “ thy 
maternal intercession with our dear Lord 
will obtain all that is wanting. Take 
this little structure under thy powerful pa- 
tronage, which in thy honor I have called 
the chapel of the Mother of Mercy.*' At 
that moment an idea flashed upon his imag- 
ination, new and till then unthought of, but 
whether it arose from a secret inspiration, or 
from the recollections of his early childhood, 
he could not tell. 

“ Tis strange,” he said, “that an imagina- 
tion so strange should thus suddenly burst 
upon my soul. And yet it is not impossi- 
ble that Father Ignatius de Tracey may still 
be living, though so many years have elapsed 
since any news of him reached my father’s 


52 


The Green Island. 


ears. The conjecture may prove the har- 
binger of a joyful reality, and the Mother of 
Mercy may conduct him to this very island, 
and it may be mine, to congratulate my ven- 
erable uncle upon this unfrequented shore. 
Happy shall I be, if it pleases heaven to per- 
mit my return to my father’s house, to rejoice 
his heart by the glad tidings that his long 
unheard of brother is still living, and the first 
priest who offered up the Holy Sacrifice oh 
the far away island of which I was so long 
the only human inhabitant.” 

Father Ignatius de Tracey was the younger 
brother of Eustace, and had from a very 
early age manifested a strong inclination for 
a religious life, which he finally determined 
to embrace. Bidding farewell to his friends, 
he took ship for Spain, where he was ad- 
mitted into the Society of Jesus. In Spain he 
remained some years, and when at length 
he was professed, he was sent with some 
others to South America, where the society 
had already, by apostolic labors, converted 
some of the wildest and most savage tribes 
to the Christian faith. 

For some years after his departure, Eus- 


The Green Island, 


57 

storm soon after beginning to abate, he 
slowly returned home. 

To his great satisfaction, Reginald’s 
abode had suffered but little injury from the 
storm, and cold and weary he lay down on 
his mossy couch, and closing his eyes with 
his favorite aspiration, “ Mother of Mercy, 
help!” he slept tranquilly till morning. 

The storm had passed away. The sky 
was cloudless and serene, the ocean calm 
and unruffled, when Reginald, having offer- 
ed up his morning prayers, and shared his 
repast with the innocent companions of his 
solitude, again directed his steps to the 
shore. He could not forget the cry which 
he had heard, or thought he heard, the pre- 
ceding night. He proceeded for a consid- 
erable distance along the shore, but no ob- 
ject appeared in sight, neither did he hear 
any repetition of the cry, and he was turn- 
ing homeward, when his observation was 
attracted by a quantity of sea weed and 
shells that had been swept close to the 
shore by the force of the tide during the 
night. While regarding it for a moment 
he imagined that it was agitated by the 


58 


The Green Isla7id, 


movements of some living creature entan- 
gled in it. He approached the tangly heap, 
and beheld to his unutterable surprise, half 
buried in sand and sea weed, an Indian boy, 
apparently about nine or ten years old, 
shivering with cold, and nearly exhausted 
by the hardships he had endured. Regi- 
nald quickly extricated him from his entan- 
glement, and endeavored by his kindness 
and care to acquire his confidence, and 
remove any fears he might have for his 
safety. 

The little Indian was almost chilled with 
cold, but his looks shewed gratitude and 
satisfaction, and exhibited no signs of fear. 
He eagerly snatched a bunch of grapes, 
offered by Reginald, who had provided him- 
self with them when setting out in the 
morning upon his charitable search. The 
poor child ate or rather devoured the grapes 
with greediness, for he was burning with 
thirst, and his lips were so parched and dry 
that he could only give utterance to inartic- 
ulate and scarcely audible sounds ; but the 
refreshment so promptly administered was 
not without its effect, and Reginald beheld 


The Green Isla7id, 


59 


' with pleasure the happy results produced 
by the invigorating juice on the little suf- 
ferer, who endeavored by words and signs 
to express his gratitude to his benefactoi^ 
Reginald had picked up some Spanish in 
Lima, and he was not a little pleased to 
find that the Indian boy could speak that 
language. 

Kneeling on the beach, he poured forth 
the warm effusions of his heart, in thanks- 
giving to the Divine Majesty, for having 
chosen him to be the preserver of the help- 
j less little stranger, and not of his life alone 
I but most probably also of his immortal soul, 

I for he felt almost assured that the child was 
I a pagan. 

“Mother of Mercy he exclaimed, his 
eyes beaming with hope and confidence, 

“ Mother of Mercy, adopt this child for 
thy own. May his life, so miraculously 
preserved, be devoted to Jesus, to thee, and 
thy chaste spouse. ' Assist me, then, dear 
Lady, that I may be able to teach the lips 
of this little one to pronounce the sweet 
names of Jesus and Mary, and of thy holy 
spouse, whose name he shall bear, for I will 


6o 


The Green Islmid, 


call him Joseph. God will be his Father, 
and thou, O holy Mary, wilt be his mother!” 

Having ended his prayer, he turned to 
the little Indian, who was attentively ob- 
serving him, but showed no surprise at his 
devotion. A supposition that the boy was 
the offspring of Christian parents for the 
first time flashed upon Reginald’s imagina- 
tion and he repeated a Hail Mary in Span- 
ish, but the boy showed no signs of devo- 
tional recollection, although Reginald imag- 
ined he could detect from his countenance 
that the accents of the Hail Mary were not 
altogether unfamiliar to his ear. 

“ Do you remember to have heard such 
words before now ?” he kindly asked. 

“ Yes, yes, I have heard some such pretty 
talk,” said the boy, with a look of childish 
simplicity, while he tried to shake the wet 
out of the beautiful skin that was girt around 
him with a belt profusely ornamented with 
beads of every color. 

It may be remarked here, that all conver- 
sations between Reginald and the Indian 
child were carried on in Spanish, until the 
boy acquired a sufficient knowledge of the 


The Green Island, 


6i 


English tongue to be able to converse with 
his benefactor in that language. 

Poor child!” exclaimed Reginald, “you 
are cold and wet, I will carry you to my 
dwelling, v^here I can dry you, and where 
/you may rest in perfect security. When 
you have recovered from the effects of your 
long exposure, we will talk over what you 
have gone through.” 

Saying this, he took the little sufferer up 
in his arms, and returned to his tent, where 
he deposited his living burden on his own 
bed of dried leaves and moss, to the no 
small discomfiture of Colombo, who was 
not perfectly well pleased with the unexpect- 
ed introduction of the young stranger. The 
sweetness of her nature, however, prevailing 
over her dissatisfaction, she gently cooed a 
friendly welcome to cheer the poor shiver- 
ing boy ; but the goats, less domesticated, 
were so much alarmed that it gave Reginald 
some trouble to quieten them. 



62 


The Great Island. 


CHAPTER VII. 

^®®HILE the Indian boy slept, Regiv 
nald, who tenderly watched his 
^^3 newly-acquired charge, for the first 
time narrowly observed his feat- 
ures, of which, when he first found him 
upon the shore, he had taken but little 
notice. Now, however, when looking at 
him quietly sleeping on the mossy bed, he 
could not help admiring the boy. His com- 
plexion was olive, and his long black hair 
waved in still wet and oozy tresses over his 
neck and shoulders, while his aspect wore 
a wild graceful dignity that contributed in 
no small degree to strengthen the favorable 
impression with which Reginald was 
already disposed to regard him. 

The robe of skins which he wore was of 
the most costly description, his neck and 
arms were profusely adorned with shells, 
beads, and other ornaments, some of them 
apparently of no small value, and Reginald 
concluded that he was the son of some 
powerful chief. It was late in the evening 
when he awoke, and Reginald in the mean- 


The Green Island, 63 

time had dried his garments in the sun, and 
added to them some^ew articles of Euro- 
pean clothing for the sake of warmth. 

Little Joseph, for so his preserver deter- 
mined he should be called, having dressed, 
sat down upon the grass with Reginald, 
while Colombe and the rest of the little 
family, more tractable than in the morning, 
assembled around them to partake of the 
banquet Reginald had prepared, and arrang- 
ed to the best advantage, to please alike the 
eyes and the palate of his guests. 

Reginald did not forget to ask the Divine 
benediction on their food, and, during the 
meal, endeavored by every little kindness 
iiis benevolent heart could suggest, to gain 
the confidence of his little companion, and 
he was pleased to find that his efforts were 
not without success. The boy was evidently 
sad, and Reginald more than once detected 
tears trickling down his olive cheeks. 

Having finished their dinner, he took the 
child’s unresisting hands in his, and placing 
them together in an attitude of prayer, held 
them up, telling him to repeat after him an 
act of thanksgiving to God for His goodness 


64 


The Green Island. 


in so abundantly supplying their wants, and 
the little fellow obeyed with the greatest 
docility, apparently anxious not only to per- 
form but to understand a duty which his 
deliverer seemed to consider so indispen- 
sable. 

Recollecting the child’s reply when he 
first repeated the “Hail Mary,” Reginald 
said it again in a clear and distinct voice, 
while the boy listened with evidently pain- 
ful attention. 

“ You told me,” said Reginald, “that you 
had heard some such pretty talk, as you 
called the prayer I have just now repeated. 
Tell me, from whose lips did you first hear 
it?” 

“ Can’t tell much — strangers wdth white 
faces, came and dwelt for a time beneath 
the shade of our palm trees, and they talked 
that way.” 

“■ Do you know no more ?* Where did 
they come from ?” 

“ From far off — over the great sea.” 

“ What were they called ?” 

“ Black — Robe ! Black Robe !” exclaim- 
ed the little fellow, in a tone of exultation, 


TJie Green Island. 


6s 


pleased that his memory enabled him so 
readily to answer the inquiries, but the next 
moment his eyes filled with tears, and a 
' shade of intense sadness passed over his 
I expressive countenance. 

A silence of some moments followed, 
which Reginald did not attempt to interrupt 
till the young Indian, his black, bright eyes 
! sparkling through the tears that trembled 
on their long lashes, suddenly asked : 

I “Who is your God ? Is he the God of 
the Black Robes?’' 

“ He is,” emphatically replied Reginald, 
i aware that by that name the Fathers of the 
I Society of Jesus were known among the 
I American Indians. 

[ “I am glad of that,” said the boy, “for 
I more than once, when I could not reach 
! some fruit, they gathered it for me from the 
high branches.” 

“ They have, then, a claim upon your 
I gratitude,’* observed his friend. “ But what 
else did they do ?’* 

“ They poured water upon people’s heads 
to make them good, and they did finer 
things than that, and put on garments shin- 
V 


66 


The Green Islarid, 


ing with gold, and all over flowers, and they 
had lights and a bright cup, and read out of 
a great book, and there was smoke that had 
such a sweet smell, and they were kind and 
good to every one, and not one of those upon 
whose heads they poured the water, would 
pray to the old wooden gods any more, and 
they were thrown away and broken, and no 
one cared what became of them.” 

“Did you pity the old wooden gods, 
Joseph ?” 

“ Not I, indeed. What good were they? 
when they were knocked about, and covered 
with dirt, and trodden underfoot, and could 
not help themselves ; and I heard a Black 
Robe tell, how his God is the only true 
God, and is greater than the bright shining 
moon, and the •sun, and the stars, for He 
made them and the whole world, and can 
do all things He pleases. He is so great and 
so rood.” 

“ You have listened very attentively to 
the good Black Robes,” said Reginald^ 

. “ Sometimes,” was the brief reply. 

“ Did they teach you to worship their 


The Green Island, 67 

“ They did tell me some very wonderful 
things, and said they would put water on 
my head when I knew more.” 

Again the little Indian looked very sor- 
rowful. 

” Did they put the water on your head ?” 

“No,” he answered, mournfully, looking 
piteously in Reginald’s face, and bursting 
into tears. 

“ What grieves you, my child ? Are you, 
sure they did not put the water on youn 
head ?” 

“Very sure they did not,” sobbed the 
boy. “ My father does not like the Black 
Robes. He is the chief of a very fierce 
tribe whom they tried to make good men, 
and persuaded them to bow down at a great 
good name they called Jesus, and they said 
He was God, and many of the people be- 
lieved all they said, and promised to love 
Jesus and Mary, and do all they said, and| 
my father was afraid of so many of the peo- 
ple. But he would not let them wet my 
head with water, and he carried me away 
into the woods. But my mother was not 
like him, and she was so good, and — ” 


'68 T he Gree7i Island, 

• Sobs choked the little fellow’s utterance, 
and for some moments he wept bitterly. 

Reginald endeavoured to comfort him. 

“ Why do you weep my boy,” said he. 

*‘For my mother. She had a slave who 
adored the God of the Black Robes, and 
believed in their faith. She told my mother 
all she knew, and my mother went with her 
to a Black Robe — and he poured water on 
her head — and called her Mary, and said 
the Mother of his God was called Mary, 
and was greater than all the queens who 
lived in this world, and my mother was so 
happy, and said she would have me be like 
herself, and would take me to a Black Robe. 
But my father heard about the water on her 
head, and he struck her with his hatchet, 
and then hurried away into the woods; she 
lived but a very little while after she fell 
down upon the cold earth. Bqt she said to 
me, ‘ Be a Christian, my child, and believe 
in Jesus and His Blessed Mother.’ She 
could say no more, and I cried over her 
when she was dead. And then my father 
came again and would have killed the kind 
slave, poor Agnes, who wept with me, but 


The Green Island. 


69 


her brother and others of her people, who 
were warriors, and had eome that very day 
to free Agnes, pointed their arrows at him, 
and made him run away again, and Agnes 
and her brother, with their people, took me 
with them to their canoes, and Agnes said 
we were going to live on another island 
with her people, where there were Black 
Robes who would tell me of the good Jesus 
and His Blessed Mother and — oh, I can- 
not think now. But I will remember it 
again. Yes, it was of some great good 
man whose name is just like what you call 
me. 

** I dare say it was the same that she 
meant. Was it not St. Joseph.” 

O yes ! I think of it now. But all at 
once the wind began to blow, and it grew 
louder and louder, and made a terrible noise, 
and the sky was full of fire; and I said, 
‘The God of the Black Robes was angry 
because my father had killed my mother.* 
And then Agnes said we ought to have 
taken my dear mother’s body along with us, 
and she wept more and more ; and the storm 
forced our canoe from the others, and Agnes* , 


fO The Green Island. 

brother said he thought the waves would 
drive us back; again, and Agnes held me fast 
in her arms, and the canoe was tossed up 
and down. She tried to hold me still, but 
a great wave came and nearly overturned 
the canoe, and I fell out of her arms into 
the water, and she cried out very loud and 
her friends tried to reach me, but the canoe 
was carried away and the sea tossed me 
about, and then left me when I could not 
cry any more,” 

The little Indian could proceed no further, 
though, indeed, his story was ended, and 
again he wept bitterly. 

Reginald again tried to console the little 
mourner, reminding him that God was so 
good and so powerful, and that it was very 
possible He had saved Agnes and the others 
who were with her, bidding him recollect how 
God in His great mercy caused the wild 
waves to cast him unhurt upon the beach, 
where He did not leave him to perish, but 
sent him help when he thought no human 
aid was near him.* 

Reginald’s words had a visible effect on 
the young Indian, but the very recent fate 


The Green Island. 


71 

of his martyred mother, was mournfully im- 
pressed on his young heart, and suddenly 
breaking silence, he exclaimed, 

“All that you say is well; Agnes may live, 
and the canoe float upon the wide sea : but 
my mother was killed; and I shall see her 
no more.” 

“ Say not so, my child : she is gone to an- 
other and a happier and a brighter world 
than this, where you will see and be happy 
with her again, if your are mindful of her 
last request.” 

The Indian boy’s dark eyes sparkled 
with animation and delight. 

“ Can God indeed do all this ?“ he ea- 
gerly asked. 

“ He can do all things ; nothing is hard, 
nothing is impossible to Him, and He is 
ever ready to help those who love Him.” 

“And the beautiful bright Queen ?” cried 
the child. 

“ She will be your mother, and God will 
love you if you are always her good and 
obedient child.” 

“Will she come to me here ?” 

“ She will watch over you while you live 


7 2 The Green Island. 

in this world, and you can speak to her at 
all times, and she will ask all things for you 
that are for your good, from her Divine 
Son.” 

“And her Son?” the child interposed. 

“Is God,” emphatically replied his youth- 
ful instructor. “ Do you not remember that 
the good Black Robes said the Blessed 
Virgin Mary was indeed the Mother of 
God?” 

“ 1 remember very well, and I love her be-* 
cause she is the Mother of the great good 
only true God,” responded the child, fixing 
his bright eyes on Reginald. 

“ I will do my best,” said Reginald, “to 
help you to be a Christian and a good Cath- 
olic, for by that name the Church of our 
Lord and Saviour Jesus is distinguished ; 
but you are not yet sufficiently recovered to 
listen to such instructions as I am able to 
give you. Keep in mind what I have said, 
and to-morrow we will talk more on the 
subject ; and now, if you like, we will take a 
walk upon the beach and look at the bright 
blue ocean.” 


The Grem Islayid. 


73 


CHAPTER VIII. 

next morning came. Their matin 
devotions were duly performed. The 
♦Indian boy, with his benefactor and 
Colombo, and the rest of the house- 
hold, breakfasted together, and then Re- 
ginald, with Colombo on his arm, taking 
the child’s hand, proceeded with him along 
the shore, mentally praying the Mother of 
Mercy to assist him in his efforts to instruct 
the little one. 

Do you remember where we left off yes- 
terday?” inquired Reginald. 

- “Yes, yes,” quickly replied the hoy; “you 
told me the bright Queen would be my 
Mother, and you say she is the Mother of 
God^ Who is so mighty, and so great, and 
so powerful. I am but a poor little Indiaa 
boy, and my mother was killed before my 
*eyes. I can’t think what all this means, but 
I believe it all, for the Black Robe talked just 
like you.” 

Reginald could not refrain from tears. 

“ Mother of Mercy!’’ he exclaimed, look- 
ing up to heaven, “ assist my weak endeavors 


74 


The Grem Island. 


to accomplish the great work it has pleased 
God to give me to do, and take this little 
one, O Blessed Mother, under your special 
protection.” ' ' 

“ Are you speaking to the great Queen?” 
inquired the boy. 

“Yes, my child, I prayed to her to help 
me to teach you to be a Christian, and 
begged she would take you under her pro- 
tection.” 

“ Did she say she would ? I did not hear 
her speak.” 

“She speaks to my soul, to my heart, and 
to my faith in the Divine Goodness, and in 
the power of her intercession with her 
Adorable Son, Who never rejects her pray- 
ers ; and this most amiable Mother is ever 
ready to hear us, although she does not often 
speak to us as we do to each other.” 

“ I wish I could see her since she is so 
good, and so fair, and so bright. Agnes 
said she heard a Black Robe tell, that she 
was clothed with the sun, and had the moon 
under her feet ; and I heard a Black Robe 
myself, tell how she is seated on a throne 
of glory by the Side of her Son.” 


The Gnrn Islatid. 75 

> 

“ I think you.know a good deal already," 
said Reginald. “ What you have heard of 
the bright Queen of Heaven is perfectly 
true, and with the grace of God and her as- 
sistance, I will do my best to teach you what 
I know, for I long to see you become a 
Christian.’' 

. “ Then pour plenty of water on my head 
at once, and make me one!” exclaimed 
the little fellow, clapping his hands ap- 
parently in the belief that nothing more was 
■'ecessary to secure the attainment of his 
desire. The next moment, however, a cloud 
gathered on his brow, and looking sorrow- 
fully in Reginald’s face, he repeated in a de- 
sponding tone: 

“ But you are not a Black Robe ?” 

Reginald sighed, and looking up to heaven, 
called fervently and lovingly on his dear 
heavenly Mother. 

“ Blessed Mother, whence is the imagi- 
nation that bursts upon my brain ? The 
thought has come upon my soul once be- 
fore.” 

He did not say more, but the aspiration 
reached the immaculate heart of her to whom 


>6 


The Green Island. 


it was addressed, while his guardian angel 
sweetly repeated : Mother of Mercy, be pro- 
pitious to his hope !” 

The Indian boy in the meantime was im- 
patiently waiting for his reply. 

“You say well, my child, the Lord’s 
anointed are those to whom it properly be- j 
longs to pour water on your head, using cer- 
tain words and ceremonies at the . same ; 
time, that is, to administer the sacrament of j 
Holy Baptism; but in case of necessity, even | 
one unworthy as I am could perform that 
duty. You must, however, know and un- 
derstand more before you can have your 
desire fulfilled; then God, if it please Him, 
will in His own good time, send a Black 
Robe hither to bless your expectation.” 

The boy looked somewhat incredulous. j 
“ The Black Robes," he said, “ very often \ 
put water on little Indian children, who can 
neither talk nor walk, and do not know what ’ 
they are doing, and only cry." j 

“ If you were a little infant," said Reginald, i 
^Hhe Case would be very different. The ! 
baby might die before it was old enough to ’ 
be taught, and the good Black Robes would j 


Tlie Great Island. 


8 1 

Eyes are always upon us, and His Ears open 
li to our prayers. He is always with us^ 
wherever we are and wherever we go.” 

“ Always with us !” cried the little Indian, 
looking wistfully around him on every side. 

“ Yes, my boy, He is here. Pie is every- 
I where.'* ^ 

Show Him to me, then !” exclaimed the 
child. “ I long to see Him.” 

“ We cannot see him now, my dear child,” 
said Reginald ; He is too bright to be seen 
I by our weak mortal eyes; but if we love 
Him and serve Him faithfully in this world, 
we shall see Him one day in all His glory, 
and majesty, and light, in His own King- 
dom, and be happy with Him for ever and 
ever.'' 

“ Shall we have long to wait ?” 

That depends upon Plis will. To some 
He gives many years, to others but few ; 
but whatever He does is right, and we must 
submit to His Allwise Providence." 

” I must try to please him," said the lit- 
tle Indian. “ But you will have to talk very 
much to me. Agnes had very long talks 
with my mother." The name renewed all 


82 


The G7'een Island. 


his sorrow, and his tears flowed afresh, but 
after a short silence, he said, “ You say my 
mother is with God, but is she not dead ? 
How then can that be?” 

“ Her body is dead but her soul is a spirit, 
and is immortal, and in that it is like unto 
God. It can never die, but shall live forever 
with God.” 

“ That’s just like what I heard a Black 
Robe say one day, when one of our people 
died, upon whom he put the water, and he 
said strange words about prayer for the soul 
that was gone away somewhere; now, I 
want to know what did all that mean ?” 

“ Your mother’s soul went to heaven, to 
God and His holy Mother, as soon as it 
departed from her body, because she expired 
with her baptismal purity unstained ; but 
many persons when they die are indebted 
to God’s Justice, and their souls cannot go 
to heaven immediately, as your mother’s 
did, and the good Black Robe asked the 
Christians to pray that God would speedily 
take them to Himself, from the place of pur- 
gation in which they were detained, but you 
will understand this better as we proceed” 


The Green Islartd. 


85 

“ I long to know all, I want to hear every- 
thing. But if, as you say, our souls are like 
to God, then they must be very bright in- 
deed,’ observed the young Indian. 

“Our souls will be bright and beautiful 
if we love God and do His Will while we 
, live in this world ; but if we are bad and 
wicked in this life, our souls will be very 
frightful, and He will not suffer us to enter 
His Kingdom.” 

“ Then you must tell me how to be good, 
till the wise Black Robe comes. You will 
have to talk all day long. I want to know 
everything, and I want to be very good; 
will that be very hard ?” 

“ I hope not. If you desire to please 
God, He will help you ; but you must love 
Him' with all your heart, and above all 
things; do you think you will find it hard 
to do that ?” 

“ O, no ! I am sure I shall love Him. 
And then there is the bright Lady, His 
Dear Mother, I must love her too.” 

“If you love God, you must love His 
Blessed Mother. It is impossible to love the 
Son without loving the Mother. The more 


The Green Island. 


8a 

you honor her, the more you will please 
Him, and she will pray to Him for you, and 
He will grant her all she asks. We have 
had a long conversation, and now we will 
drop the subject for a while, and turn our 
steps homeward/’ 

The return of the two friends was wel- 
comed as usual, Colombe keeping her place 
upon Reginald’s shoulder, the robins and 
the green birds fluttered around them, while 
the little goats capered around Joseph, and 
the old tortoise crept, as well as she could, 
to put in her claim to kindly notice. 



The Green Island. 


85 


CHAPTER IX. 

next morning, Reginald, accom- 
panied by his young Indian, who 
earnestly desired to see the sur- 
rounding country, directed his steps 
to the green sunny valley through which 
rippled the little river that fertilized the 
island. They walked along its flowery 
banks till the boy complained of fatigue, 
and then they sat down, and both for 
a time remained in silent thought, till 
the Indian boy, starting from his reverie, 
looked earnestly in Reginald’s face, while 
he inquired, 

“ What must I call you ? Are you the 
chief or the king ol the island 

“ I am neither king nor chief,” Reginald 
answered, with a smile; '“if I were, the 
birds and the goats would be my only sub- 
jects. I was the only human being on the 
island till it pleased heaven to send you 
here. You may call me friend, brother, or 
what you will, my name is Reginald de 
Tracy, but it will sufflce if you call me Regi- 
nald, which is my name as a Christian.” 


86 


The Gree^i Island. 


** I don’t think I can say it, Regi — Regi. 

I cannot say it,” said the little fellow, with 
evident dissatisfaction. “I don’t like it, 
Rigi — Regin, there again. But, Tracy, De 
Tracy, did you not say that was your name 
also ?” 

“ I did, my boy. Do you like it better ? ' 

I do ; I have heard it before now,” said 
he. 

‘‘ Where, where, when ? how ?” exclaimed 
the astonished Reginald. 

“When the good Black Robe put the 
water on my mother’s head,” said the boy, 
“there were others with him, and I heard 
them call him Father de Tracy, and he 
looked so good, and his head was whiter 
than the whitest flower that grows in our 1 

land.” j 

Reginald sprang from his mossy seat. 

“ Father de Tracy!” he exclaimed, “O, 
that I knew where to find him ! He is my ‘| 
father’s brother, Joseph I we believed him 
dead, but you tell me it was he who baptized ' 
your mother; I may then hope he is still 
living.” I 

“ Yes, he is not dead, for he poured the 1 
water on my mother’s head.” 1 


The Green Island. 87 

But where shall we seek for him ?” said 
1 Reginald mournfully. 

“ Over the bright sea, on the island I left,” 

I said the boy. 

1 Then we must have a canoe, and how 
1 shall we be able to provide one ? and I 
I tremble to think of the danger to which he 
is exposed from the cruelty of your fierce 
father.” 

My father will not hurt him,'' said the 
boy, “ although he hates him ; for he knows 
his God is very strong and powerful, and 
' fears He would avenge any harm done to 
the Black Robes, for their God loves them, 
and they love Him ; and will not this great 
good God, who is our God also, send us a 
canoe if we ask Him, since he can do all 
things ?” 

‘‘ You are quite right, my little friend, 

I and if we pray to Him as we ought, and’ 
j ask His blessed Mother to assist us, we have 
; every reason to hope that He will not reject 
j our petitions." • 

' ‘-Then you must teach me to pray.” 

Willingly, my boy, and now I remem- 
ber you have not yet seen my little church.” 


88 


The Gi'eeri Island, 


“Your church! O, yes. You said 
churches were for praying to God in. Have 
you got a church here ?” 

“There is not a real church upon the 
island. What I call my church is a little 
place I have erected to the honor of God 
and His holy Mother, and, humble as it is, 
Almighty God is too good and too gracious 
to despise the prayers we offer in it, because 
we have not a fine large church.” 

And, taking the boy’s hand, with the 
kindness of an affectionate elder brother, 
Reginald led him to the little temple he had 
constructed with so much diligence and 
labor. Kneeling down before the altar with 
his docile companion, and crossing himself, 
Reginald repeated aloud The Lord’s Prayer, 
The Hail Mary, and the Apostles" Creed, 
while the Indian boy, of his own accord, 
repeated the words after him with extraor- 
dinary precision. Rising from their knees, 
Reginald led his young charge to the altar, 
and, directing his attention to the crucifix, 
inquired if he had seen anything like it 
before. 

“Yes, yes, with the Black Robes.” 


I The Green Island, 89 

“ Did you hear them say what it meant ?” 
i “ O, yes, I did hear them say very many 
I things, but I cannot remember now. But 
j my mother cried, and Agnes cried, and I 
cried when they did.’' 

“ Did you know why they cried ?” 

“I don’t know quite. Thev were sorry 
for what they heard.” 

“You shall know it dl in a little time. 
|i But you must try to remember exactly 
whatever I tell you.” 

The boy looked up, surprised at a remark 
that seemed to intimate a doubt of his sin- 
cerity, and, fixing his eyes steadfastly on 
Reginald, while he repeated the names of 
the Three Divine Persons, crossed himself 
without making any rnistake, and with evi- 
dent complacency inquired, 

“ Do I not remember what you tell me ?” 

Reginald would have replied, but was 
prevented by the impetuous little Indian, 
saying, 

“ You must make me know what all this 
means. The Black Robes say, and you 
say, there is but one God, why then do the 
Black Robes, and why do you, talk of three ?” 


90 


The Gi'een Island. 


‘‘ Not of three Gods/’ answered Reginald, 
*‘but of Three Persons in One and the same 
God. There is not, there never was, and 
there never can be, more than One God, 
the Creator and Sovereign Lord of heaven 
and earth, and of all things, seen and un^ 
seen. But in this One Only God there are 
Three distinct Persons, God the Father, , 
God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, and 
this mystery is called the mystery of the i 
Blessed Trinity, and these Three Divine 
Persons are Equal in all things, All-wise, i 
All-powerful, and All-good.” I 

“Must I believe all this?’’ ' 

“ You must, or you cannot be a Christian, j 
Every Christian must believe in the Blessed j 
Trinity.” I 

“Can the bright Queen help me to believe .• 
this ? I will ask her now if you tell me J 
what to say.” j 

“ Mother of God ! teach me how to be- j 
lieve the truths taught by thy Divine Son. ^ 
I wish to do His Will, ask of Him to en- . 
lighten my soul with His heavenly light.” ; 

The little Indian repeated the prayer as 
well as he was able. 1 


The G re 671 Island. 91 

Do I believe now ?” he enquired, look- 
ing innocently at his instructor. 

“ I am shre you will believe all that every 
Christian must believe,’ \said Reginald. 

“Then I must believe. Let me remem- 
ber : Three in One ! How wonderful !’’ 

“ But possible to Almighty God,” said 
Reginald ; “ and now I call to mind having 
heard people say in my own land that God 
once took pity on the people who dwelt in 
an island niuch larger than this, but just 
such another green flowery land, and sent 
a holy man to teach them to be Christians, 
for they did not know Him then. Who is 
the Only True and Living God, but wor- 
shipped ugly idols made of wood and stone, 
made by mens’ hands, just as your father 
does now ; and the good man -said every-’ 
thing he could think of to persuade them 
to , leave their folly and wickedness, in 
worshipping false gods, who could neither 
help themselves nor those who were foolish 
enough to adore them, and told them of the 
One Only True God, in Whom there were 
Three distinct Persons, but he could not 
make them understand how Three distinct 


92 


The Green Island. 


Persons could be in One God, and the holy 
man stooped down, and pulled a little green 
sprig from a small plant that grew among 
the grass upon which he stood, and the 
little sprig had but one very small and slen- 
der stem, but at the top of it there were 
three pretty bright green leaves, all centred 
in the one little stem, and he held it up to 
the people, and then they believed all that 
he said, and became Christians and fervent 
adorers of the Blessed Trinity, and most 
devoted servants to the holy Mother of God ; 
and the people of that land are celebrated 
throughout the world for their firm adher- 
ence to the faith he preached to them, and 
for their veneration of the glorious Virgin 
Mary. And now, my young friend,” Regi- 
nald continued, “you have received suffi- 
cient instruction for to-day ; to-morrow, 
should it please the Divine Majesty to bless 
our intention, we shall return hither, and I 
will resume the pleasing task so happily 
commenced.” 

The little Indian, with some degree of 
reluctance acceded to the proposal, and 
casting a look of affectionate enquiry at the 


The G7'ee7t Island. 


93 


crucifix, of which he so longed to hear an 
explanation, knelt down with his young in- 
structor before the sacred image. Having 
I offered up a short ejaculatory prayer to our 
Crucified Lord, they returned home to the 
very great satisfaction of Colombo and the 
other members of the household. 


CHAPTER X. 


^^HE next morning, soon after break- 
fast, Reginald, with the Indian boy, 
went forth, leaving the rest of the 
family to employ themselves at their 
own discretion during their absence, with 
the exception of Colombo, who, not choos- 
ing to be left behind any more, extend- 
ed her wings, and without any ceremony 
perched on Reginald's shoulder, a prac- 
tice by no means (as it may be remem- 
bered) unusual with her, and very contentedly 
accompanied them on their \vay. The boy’s 
eyes sparkled with joy, and his heart 
throbbed with delight when he entered the 
little unostentatious arbor-church, and seeing 


94 


The Green Island. 


Reginald kneel before the crucifix, followed 
his example, his little hands crossed upon 
his breast, and his eyes fixed earnestly on 
the holy image. 

The little fellow repeated the prayers after 
Reginald, which he was now tolerably well 
able to do, to the great satisfaction of his 
kind instructor, who was much pleased to 
hear his young charge spontaneously ask 
the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph to help 
him to be a Christian. 

Having risen from their knees and seated 
themselves on the mossy bank before the 
altar, the Indian child, fixing his dark eyes 
sparkling v/ith intelligence on Reginald, 
said, pointing to the crucifix, “I want to 
know what that is, and all about what it 
means ?” 

“You shall know all that you desire. But 
there are other things of which you should 
have a previous knowledge, to enable you 
to comprehend the stupendous miracle of 
mercy you behold represented there.” 

“Then why not tell me all the Black 
Robes say of what I see there?” 

“It would require a Black Robe himself 
to do that.” 


The Green Island 


95 


The little Indian made an impatient ges- 
i ture. 

r “ My dear child,” said Reginald, kindly, 
! I will answer you as well as I am able, but 
I cannot teach you like a Black Robe.” 

I “ The Mother of Mercy will help you,” 

I said the boy. 

I Reginald bowed his head in acquiescence to 
the observation, and, taking the child’s hand, 
inquired, '' Do you remember all that I told 
you ydsterday?” 

“ I do. You said there is only One God, 
but there are Three Persons in God. I 
know it all very well. And God can see 
and hear, and know, and do all things. And 
I know how to name the Three Persons who 
are in One God ; and you said the mystery 
of the Three Persons in One God is called 
the mystery of the Blessed Trinity; and I 
remember about the priest and the three 
pretty green leaves on the one stem.” 

Reginald smiled approvingly. ” You have 
not a bad memory,'* he said, “ and I feel 
that the more you know of the glory and 
goodness of God, the more you will love 
Him. Look yonder,*’ he continued, ‘‘at the 


96 


The Green Isla7td, 


beautiful bright blue sky, where the sun is 
shining with such dazzling light that our eyes 
cannot bear to look steadfastly upon it, and 
at this beautiful Green Iskind, with its flow’- 
ery plains ; hear the pretty birds sing, and 
admire the crystal waters of the river that 
winds its way through the valley: these, 
and the vast ocean and the moon and the 
stars, and all the people of other lands, God 
made them all.” 

“ How did He do such great things ?’’ said 
the boy. • 

” By His Own Almighty Word.’' 

“ Did He make you and me, and Co- 
lombe?” 

“ He did, and every living creature.” 

“Tell me, then, of what did He make 
them ?” 

“Out of nothing! By His Only Word.” 

The little Indian looked astonished and 
awestruck. 

“ His power is infinite,” proceeded Regi- 
nald, “ He spake, and all things were made.” 

The boy listened attentively, but did not 
reply. 

“When God had made the world, with its 


The Green Island. 


97 


mountains and rivers, and woods and forests, 
and flowery plains, so brilliant and so beau- 
tiful, He stopped rx)t there, but gave existence 
also to creatures capable of knowing, loving 
and serving Him with a reasonable service ; 
He made the first man out of the dust of the 
earth, and named him Adam, and placed 
him in a garden of delights, and afterwards 
made the first woman and named her Eve ; 
and these two, Adam and Eve, we call our 
first parents, and they lived in the beautiful 
garden. This garden was named Eden, and 
was full of trees bearing the most delicious 
fruits, and blooming with the most beauti- 
ful flowers of all kinds and colors. Adana 
and Eve were never to die, but after remain- 
ing a certain time in this world, God would 
remove them to His own bright kingdom,' 
where they would live and be happy with 
Him forever. God gave them permission to 
eat of the fruit of every tree that was in the 
garden, with one exception, and He strictly 
forbade them to eat of the fruit of that tree, 
and told them if they disobeyed Him they 
should surely die. For some time they faith- 
fully obeyed His command, but at last, sad 

» 


98 The Green Island. 

to relate, the woman Eve li-stened to the 
evil and envious suggestions of a wicked spirit 
named Satan, whom God had cast out of 
heaven with many other bad spirits, and con- 
‘demned to a prison of eternal torments, for 
daring to rebel against His Divine Majesty. 
And she did eat of the fruit of the forbidden 
tree, and not content with the sin she had 
herself committed, persuaded Adam to eat 
of it also. God, from whom nothing can 
be concealed, beheld their disobedience, and 
He drove them out of the beautiful garden 
and condemned them to death, depriving 
them of all right to heaven. Then their 
hearts were filled with desolation and sor- 
row and despair, for the good they had lost, 
and the prospect of eternal misery that was 
before them, for they knew they could do 
nothing to appease the anger of God, and 
that nothing they could do would atone for the 
insult offered to the Most High. So there 
was nothing left for them but to be exiled 
forever, they and their posterity, from the 
presence of God and His holy angels.” 

“ But the poor man and woman, did not 
the dear Mother of Mercy pray for them ?” 
said the boy. 


The Green Island. 


99 


‘^Almighty God had not given us the 
Mother of Mercy then/^ said Reginald — 
“ We shall come to that part of our instruc- 
tions another day — but to return to our 
offending first parents, God took compassion 
on their helplessness, and since nothing less 
than God Himself would suffice for an offer- 
ing to obtain forgiveness for mankind, God 
the Son offered Himself to His Eternal 
Father to suffer and to die, and by shedding 
His Sacred Blood, blot out the decree of 
condemnation pronounced against the human 
race.” 

Could God die?” exclaimed the Indian 
boy, springing from his seat in evident sur- 
prise and consternation. “ Is He dead ? 
Did- that great Almighty Being suffer and 
die ?” 

“ God can never die: He is Holy, Strong, 
Immortal; but He loved us so well, that in 
His own infinite Wisdom, He devised away 
by which our ransom. would be paid, and a 
sufficient atonement offered to His Divine 
Majesty for the disobedience of the first 
man and woman. God the Son resolved to 
take upon Himself our human nature, and 


100 


The Green Island, 


become man to redeem and save us. The 
Eternal Trinity accepted the offering, and in 
the fulness of time God sent one of His 
brightest angels, the Blessed Gabriel, to a j 
most beautiful and holy virgin named Mary.1 
Though of royal descent, she was poor and 
lowly. She was espoused to a holy man! 
named Joseph, like herself, of royal lineage,! 
and led with him a most chaste and holy 
life in the little city of Nazareth. The angel of 
God, when he came into the presence of this 
lowly virgin who was alone at the time, 
saluted her with great reverence and said, 

‘ Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with 
thee: blessed art thou among women.’ She 
was troubled at his saying, and the angel 
said to her, ‘ Fear not Mary, for thou hast 
found favor with God.’ He told her rhe 
should bring forth a son, and she should call 
His Name Jesus, and He should be great 
and should be called the Son of the Most 
High. And when she said, ‘ How shall this' 
be done ?’ he answered, ‘ The Holy Ghost 
shall come upon thee, and the Power of the' 
Most High shall overshadow thee, and there-] 
fore also, the Holy One that shall be born of 


The Green Island. 


lOI 


thee, shall be called the Son of God.’ And 
she replied with a heart full of faith in God’s 
; power, ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord — 
be it unto me according to thy word,’ And 
that instant the Eternal Son of God became 
incarnate in her spotless womb. In God’s 
Providence it so fell out that some time 
afterwards Joseph and his virgin spouse were 
constrained to make a journey to a city called 
; Bethelehem, and when they reached the 
1 city, weary and -faint and cold, (for it was in 
I the winter season,) there was no room for 
them in the inn, and they were obliged to 
; take shelter in a cold cheerless stable, where 
in perfect resignation to the Will of Amighty 
I God, they awaited His Divine Pleasure, 
i The time was now come for the Saviour to 
be born, and the Blessed Virgin brought forth 
I her Divine Son, and having wrapped Him 
j up with the tenderest care, laid Him upon 
I straw in a manger, the' great Creator of 
[ heaven and earth, humbled to a little weep- 
ing helpless Babe.” 

“How wonderful!” exclaimed the little 
Indian, “that God, Who is so great and so 
powerful, and can do all things, would do so 


102 


The Green Island, 


much even for such a little creature as I am, 
for whom no one cares now, unless it be you y 
and our Colombe.’^ 

Reginald smiled at the concluding remark, i 

“ God has done a great deal more for you | 
and for all the world, as you shall hear another j 
day, but we must now go on wnth the sub- \ 
jectof this morning’s instruction.’ 

“ O do tell me, I want to hear more of the | 
Divine Babe,” said the Indian, his bright 
eyes flashing with intelligence and delight. 

As. I have said,” continued Reginald, 

“ that little Infant, though in outward seem- 
ing no more than any other new-born child, 
was the great God of heaven. Can you be- 
lieve this?” 

Why not ? The Mother of Mercy will ) 
help me to do so.” 

“ As soon as His Divine Son was born, J 
the Eternal Father sent a vast number of 
His holy angels, and the sky, although it ' 
was midnight, was all radiant and brilliant 
with the brightness of these blessed spirits, • 
and they adored the Heavenly Child, and -1 
filled the skies w'ith the harmony of their j 
voices, singing, ‘ Glory be to God on high, and 1 


The Great Island, 


103 


peace on earth to men of good will.’ There 
were shepherds watching their sheep that 
1 night, and the angels appeared to them,tell- 
: ing them that they brought them tidings of 
f great joy, for a Saviour was born unto them, 
and they would find Him in a stable, lying in 
■ a manger. The good shepherds therefore left 
their flocks, and went in all haste and adored 
their new born Lord, giving due honor also 
to His Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. 

“ Soon after the good shepherds had gone, 

: there followed another manifestation of the 
I new born Babe, for there came three great 
and wise kings from the east to adore Him. 
Beholding a most bright and beautiful star 
' appear unexpectedly in the heavens, they were 
divinely inspired to know by that token 
that He was born Who should be the Saviour 
of mankind ; and having provided themselves 
wfth rich gifts to offer to the Divine Infant, 
they, attended by a numerous retinue, de- 
parted from their own country to seek and 
adore Him, and the beautiful star went be- 
fore them. 

“ The three kings journeyed on till they 
came to Bethelehem, and the beautiful star 
rested over the stable where the Lord lay. 


104 Green Island. 

“ They entered the poor stable, and kneel- 
ing down before the new born God and 
Saviour, adored Him, and opening their treas- : 
ures, they offered Him* three rich gifts, gold, 
frankincense and myrrh. 

“ The Heavenly Infant smiled graciously 
upon them, showing by His sweet Counte- 
nance, how pleasing their faith was to Him j 
and tiiey rejoiced exceedingly in the happi- 
ness of beholding Him; and having devou ly 
saluted His Virgin Mother and St. Joseph, 
they departed to return into their owm coun- 
try.’' 

“ Did they get home safe to their own 
land?’’ inquired the Indian child. 

“They did my little friend, and several 
years after, water was poured on their heads, 
and they were consecrated to the service of 
Almighty God, and became zealous preach- 
ers of the faith of our Lord Jesus Chribt, and 
finally suffered death for His Name; and here 
let me tell you, that at the Holy Name of 
Jesus every knee should bend, every head 
should bow, with devotion, reverence, and 
love.” 

“ Then I shall kneel down now, for every 


The Greeri Island. 


105 


time I have spoken it,” said the little Indian, 
falling on his knees and making the sign of 
the holy cross. 

You improve daily, my good child,”- 
said Reginald, “ but it is now time we should 
think of returning home.” 

You have not told me the names of the 
three kings,” said the boy, as he arose from 
his knees. 

“You will burden you memory with a 
heavy load,” said Reginald, smiling. “The 
names of the three wise kings were Gasper, 
Melchior, and Balthazar.” ' 


CHAPTER XI. 

t^j^pEGINALD’S return with his young 
charge and the faithful Colombe, was 
greeted, as usual, by the rest of the 
family, who had become rather impa- 
tient at their long absence. 

The pretty green birds fluttered around the 
Indian boy, and the little goats leaped about 
so merrily, that they upset Colombe’ s cage 
and threw down the poor old tortoise, before 


io6 


The Green Istand, 




order was sufficiently restored to permit ; 
Reginald to spread the repast upon the grass 
before the door. 

The boy could speak of nothing else 
during their meal but the wonderful things 
he had listened to in the morning with so ' 
much delight, adverting to them with a de- 
gree of intelligence that afforded infinite sat- 
isfaction to his instructor, who could not, 
while he contemplated the fine expressive : 
countenance of the amiable child, divest 
himself of a bright presentiment that his 
interesting little pupil, in after years, might 
himself be associated with the zealous mis- 
sionaries who labored so successfully in pro- 
pagating the faith in the new world. 

“ You have still more wonders to hear,” 
he said, “ but you must take time to medi- 
tate upon what you already know.” 

The young Indian made no reply, every 
moment he remained in ignorance of the 
divine mysteries was an age to him. Regi- 
nald did not interrupt his meditations, and 
for some time he continued apparently lost ^ 
in thought, till .suddenly breaking silence, he 
exclaimed, “ The Mother of Mercy will send 


The Green Island. 


107 


us a good Black Robe, he will help you, and 
we will show him our pretty little church. 
And then,” looking in Reginald’s face he in- 
quired, “ will he not wear the same bright 
garments, shining like those the black Robes 
wore when Agnes took me with her, and I 
saw the lights burning, and Agnes told me 
God was there ?” 

“We must persevere in prayer to His 
blessed Mother to obtain that favor for us, 
and we know He will not refuse her anything 
she asks.” 

“ 1 am glad of that, I have so many things 
to ask, and I want to get them all. Do you 
think the bright Queen will' grow weary of 
heciring me?” 

“ I am sure she will hot, as long as you 
ask only what it is consistent with the honor 
and glory of God for you to obtain. 

“ I would not ask her anything to make 
Him angry with me if I knew it,'' said the 
child, quickly. 

“ Would you ask to be a chief, or a prince, 
or a warrior like your father?’' 

“ No, no !” he replied with a degree of 
vehemence, so different from his customary 
meekness that Reginald was startled. 


io8 The Green Island. 

“ No, no! not like my father, he does not 
love the great good God who was born in 
the stable. He would not have water on his 
head nor hear the Black Robe, and he — ” 
the child looked in Reginald’s face, and burst 
into tears. 

Reginald took the child’s hands, and, 
pointing towards heaven, he affectionately 
exclaimed: “You are thinking of your 
mother. She is up there with God and His 
own Blessed Mother, and she prays for you 
there. Do not grieve, then, my child, for 
she is where she will be eternally happy, and 
if you do the will of God in this world, you 
will be happy with her forever in the next. 
And now let me hear some of the many 
things you would ask our Blessed Lady to 
obtain for you from her Divine Son.’’ 

“ I would ask her to pray to Him to for- 
give my cruel Indian father, and make him 
love the Black Robes, and do all they tell 
him to do, and I would ask her to take care 
of poor Agnes and send us a Black Robe.” 

He paused for a moment, apparently try- 
ing to call to mind the numerous favors he 
wished to obtain. 


The Greefi Island, 109 

Would you ask our dear Mother to help 
us out of this lonely island ?” said Reginald. 

“ Lonely !” cried the boy. “Did you not 
tell me God is everywhere? Can we be 
lonely if God is with us ? And did you not 
say that He gives to every one a bright 
beautiful angel who never leaves us, though 
we do not see him?” 

“You say well, my child; but my mean- 
ing was that here we cannot serve and honor 
God with the same dignity and solemnity 
we could if we had the happiness of living 
in a Christian country, where all the people 
united in adoring the One True God, and in 
paying due honor to the Virgin Mother of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. And now let me 
hear what more you would wish to obtain.” 

“ You will laugh at me if do.” 

• Never mind that: I am very anxious to 
know what are your expectations for the 
future, if it should please Almighty God to 
permit that you live to be a man.” 

“ Then I mean to ask the dear Mother of 
Mercy that I may be a good Black Robe 
myself” 

“ And you may be sure' she will beg that 


no The Green Island, 

favor for you from her dear. Son, if it is in 
accordance with His Divine Will. And now 
I think we need not say any more this even- 
ing, and when we have taken a walk upon 
the strand, and sung our vesper hymns, said 
our night prayers, and seen our little com- 
panions properly lodged for the night, it will 
be time for us to think of retiring to rest.” 

The inmates of that peaceful dwelling 
slept tranquilly till they were awakened soon 
after sunrise the next morning by the vigi- 
lant Colombe, and obedient to the well 
known signal, Reginald and his little friend 
were speedily up and on their knees, and the 
accents of their morning thanksgiving ming- 
ling in sweet unison, were borne by angels 
to the Eternal Throne. 

Their next care was to provide the family 
breakfast, a duty in which the Indian boy 
had already acquired sufficient experience 
to give his benefactor considerable assist- 
ance, particularly as the little goats were on 
such friendly terms With him that occasion- 
ally, when they were in good humor, they 
al’owed him to milk them, a privilege of 
which he was not a little proud. 


The Green Island, 


III 


Breakfast was soon over that morning, and 
the two friends, having risen from their 
flowery table, the boy, with a look of entreaty 
at Reginald, was the first to break silence. 

“ I want to go where the altar is, and see 
the cross with the Saviour upon it.’’ 

“With the image of the Saviour upon it/’ 
said Reginald watching him attentively. 

“I know that ! I know that !” quickly re- 
plied the child. “ I know it is not the real 
Lord Jesus, but it looks like Him when He 
was put on the cross to die for us.” 

. “You are quite right, my little friend,” 
said Reginald, “and your wish shall be com- 
plied with without any delay. Let us pro- 
ceed at once to our little church.” 

. And away they went, with light hearts 
and light steps to the little structure hal- 
lowed by their devotion. 

The young Indian had scarcely crossed 
the threshold before he was on his knees, and 
as he prayed aloud, Reginald could not help 
smiling at the number of favors he begged 
from the Divine Majesty, and the confidence 
with which he every now and then cried, 
“ Mother of Mercy, dear Mother of Mercy! 


112 The Green Island. 

ask every thing for me and for Reginald and 
Agnes, and take care of our poor Colombe, 
and send us a Black Robe/’ 

Reginald did not interrupt him; and when 
he had prayed till he could think of nothing 
more to pray for, he rose up very contentedly, 
when his kind instructor, having implored 
the Divine benediction, and begged the 
gracious assistance of the Mother of Mercy, 
they sat down, and Reginald commenced 
the conversation by asking the impatient 
little boy, if he remembered where they left 
off. 

“ I don’t forget,” said he. There was 
the dear little Child Jesus born in the ^^table; 
there was the holy Virgin Mother and good 
St. Joseph; and good men with pretty sheep 
and lambs, and a bright star and bright 
spirits, and great rich kings wearing crowns, 
bearing fine presents for the Son of God, Who 
is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, 
and is One and the Same God with the 
Father and the Holy Ghost. And now I 
have told you all this, you must tell me all 
you said we should talk about to-day.” 

^“Then I must begin by telling you that 


The Green Island. 1 13 

some time after the departure of the wise 
kings from Bethlehem, our Blessed Lady, 
with Ijpr chaste spouse St. Joseph, carried 
the Heavenly Child to Jerusalem, and 
brought Him to the Temple, a most mag- 
nificent building dedicated to the honor and 
worship of Almighty God, and presented 
Him to the Divine Majesty, and a venera- 
ble old man named Simeon took Him into 
his arms, and confessed Him to be the 
promised Redeemer of mankind ; and there 
was an aged and devout woman called Anna, 
who praised and gave glory to the Divine 
Infant at the same time.’* 

** I wish I had been there,” cried the In- 
dian boy; '^to have seen the Son of God 
and His Blessed Mother, and the good St. 
Joseph; I would have prayed to the dear 
(ittle Child, and asked H im to bless me. But 
tell me more ; I must know all about how 
the Holy Child Jeshs came to be on the 
crugifix.” 

Reginald resumed. “ I must tell you, my 
good little friend, that a very bad and wicked 
man was king in the country at the time 
Jerusalem was visited by the three wise kings. 


The Green Island. 


1 14 

and he told the good kings to come and tell 
him when they found the Holy Infant ; but 
an angel ordered them not to do and 
they went away and did not come to him 
any more. When the wicked king, who was 
named Herod, found the wise kings did not 
return to him, he ordered all the new-born 
baby boys about Bethlehem to be put to 
death, intending by that means to effect the 
death of the Blessed Infant, but the Almighty 
Father had sent one of His angels to St 
Joseph who told him to rise, and take the 
young Child and His Mother, and fly with, 
them into Egypt, and remain there till he 
came to him again.” 

“How cruel !’\ exclaimed the Indian boy, 
his eyes flashing with all their native fire ; 
“If I had been there, I would have killed 
that wicked Herod if I were a man.” 

Reginald proceeded, without making any 
ren;ark upon the exclamation : “ St Joseph 
set out the same night with the Blessed 
Child and His holy Mother. The way to 
Egypt was long and dreary, but they arrived 
there in safety after having encountered 
many hardships. When the Blessed Infant 


The Gricen Islmid. 115 

entered Egypt, unable to endure the presence 
of the Living God, all the idols of that land 
fell down upon the ground and they had not 
power to speak any more.” 

“Speak!” cried the little Indian with a 
look and voice of amazement, “ were they 
not wood and stone ? Could they speak ?” 

“ No, my little friend,” said Reginald, 
“ they, were as you justly say, w^ood and 
stone, lifeless, motionless, and speechless, 
but evil spirits used to speak through them 
to deceive the people, who were wicked 
enough and silly enough to consult them. 
But the Infant God silenced them for ever, 
and they spoke no more."' 

“ How good, how’ great, and how power- 
ful was the Holy Child,” cried the Indian 
boy, admiringly. 

Reginald proceeded: “The Blessed In- 
fant with His Mother and St. Joseph, re- 
mained for some years in Egypt, till the 
Almighty Father sent the angel to tell them 
to return into their own land. The Holy 
Family did so, and for some years lived 
quietly in a cottage at Nazareth ; but when 
the Blesssed Child had reached the age of 


The Green Island. 


Ii6 

twelve years His holy parents went to 
Jerusalem, taking Him with them, and it 
pleased His Eternal Father that they should 
lose Him for three days, but they found 
Him the fourth day in the temple, disputing 
with the doctors or learned men, who were 
astonished at His wisdom. The Divine 
Child then obediently returned with His 
Blessed Mother and her spouse to their 
home in Nazareth, and was subject to them, 
working with St. Joseph at his trade of car- 
penter. He grew up in grace and wisdom, 
dwelling with them in peace and holiness 
until the death of the good St. Joseph, the 
Blessed Jesus having about that time at- 
tained His thirtieth year.” 

“And where did the good St. Joseph’s 
soul go ?” 

“ It went to a place of rest, where the souls 
of all the holy people, who died before our 
Lord suffered for us, were awaiting His 
coming to deliver them, and take them with 
Him to His eternal Kingdom. Our Blessed 
Saviour, soon after St. Joseph’s death, com- 
menced preaching and teaching the truths 
of eternal life, and many people believed in 


Tlu Great Island, 


117 

Him and acknowledged Him for their God 
and Lord, and long expected Saviour, and 
some voluntarily gave up all things to follow 
Him; and He performed many great works,, 
and wrought many miracles to confirm them 
in their faith.’* 

I want to know what a miracle is ?” in- 
quired the boy, quickly interrupting him. 

“ It is an extraordinary manifestation of 
the power of God, by performing what is 
contrary to the order of nature, and can only 
be effected by Him, although He sometimes 
gives power to some of His chosen servants 
to work miracles in His Name. And I 
must tell you, for the honor of the Mother 
of God, and to show you how much He loves 
to grant whatever she asks, that it was at 
her request He wrought His first miracle; 
but you have heard so much to-day, it will 
not do to fatigue* you any more at this 
time.” 

I am not tired at all !” cried his anxious 
auditor. 

Reginald smiled, and continued: *‘Our 
Blessed Lord and His Mother were invited 
to a marriage feast, and it happened that the 


Ii8 The Green Island. 

wine failed in quantity, and there was none 
left to pour out to the guests. Our dear 
Lady took compassion upon them, and said 
to her Divine Son, ‘ They have no wine.* 
And though He did not seem inclined to re- 
lieve them, and said His hour was not yet 
come, His Blessed Mother knew very well 
that He would grant what she asked, and 
said to the servants, ‘ Do what he tells you,* 
and presently He bade them fill up the 
water pots with water and serve it to the 
guests, and they did according to His com- 
mand; and when the chief steward tasted it, 
he found it was much finer wine than that 
with which they were first served.” 

“ I wish I was alive then, and at that feast,*’ 
said the bo}^, thoughtfully, “that I might 
have tasted that wonderful wine.” 

Reginald gazed earnestly and silently upon 
him for a while, and again a prophetic light 
beamed upon his soul, while he said with 
more than usual solemnity — 

“The time to come may unfold much for 
you, my dear good child. The ways of the 
Divine Wisdom are impenetrable to our 
weak comprehension. Heaven has wonder- 


The Green Island. 


119 


fully preserved you, perhaps for some great 
end, and you may yet be called to partake of a 
Wine infinitely more holy, more precious, 
and more excellent, than the wine so miracu- 
lously supplied at the marriage feast.’' 

“Than the wine made by our Lord Him- 
self?” cried the little Indian, looking very 
incredulous, and rather surprised, at Regi- 
nald. 

“ You cannot now comprehend my mean- 
ing,” said his instructor, “but another time 
I will endeavor to explain to you the hope 
I have conceived of your future ; we are both 
fatigued with so much speaking, I shall 
therefore conclude this morning’s conversa- 
tion by imploring the blessing of God and 
His holy Mother, upon our expectations.’' 



120 


TJu Green Island. 


CHAPTER XII. 

next morning beheld the two 
friends again kneeling before the 
crucifix in the little church, de- 
voutly reciting the Holy Rosary. 
Having concluded it, they took places as 
usual, when the young Indian, without 
allowing his friend a moment’s time for 
reflection, exclaimed, in accents sufficiently 
loud to indicate his impatience, 

“Why don’t you talk, I want to know 
everything.” 

“Then I must not lose any time,” said 
Reginald, smiling. “ Where did we leave 
off yesterday ?” 

“ At the water changed into wine. And 
then you talked strangely of a finer wine than 
that which our Lord made at the marriage 
feast.’ ’ 

Reginald smiled. . “Our Lord,” he com- 
menced, “ performed many other great and 
wonderful works, which it is not necessary 
for me to speak of; be content for the present 
to learn only what is absolutely necessary 
for you to know. If you persevere as you 


The Green Island. 


I2I 


have begun, I shall soon be able to teach 
you to read, and having a book in my pos- 
session that contains all you can possibly 
desire to know, I shall gladly place it in 
your hands as soon as you are capable of 
using it.*' 

Then I shall have to wait a long time — 
a very long time,” said the boy; “but the 
dear Mother of Mercy will send a good 
Black Robe to say all I want to hear before 
then.” 

“ We shall get on better,” said his friend, 
kindly, “ if you are less impatient. I shall 
now proceed at once to that awfully myste- 
rious time, when the Divine Mercy was 
wonderfully exemplified in the great work 
of our redemption. 

“ Convinced by the greatness and number 
of His wonderful works, the number of 
believers in our Lord Jesus daily increased, 
and He chose twelve men out of those that 
acknowledged His divine mission, whom He 
called Apostles, and they accompanied Him 
wherever He went, and He taught them all 
that was then necessary for them to know, 
and upon one occasion He took three of 


122 . 


The Green Island. 


them to the top of a mountain, and showed 
Himself to them clothed in all the Glory of 
His Divine Majesty.’' 

The Indian boy did not break silence with 
his lips, but his looks spoke eloquently. I 
wish I was there, too,” they seemed to say, 
to have seen Him in His Glory.” 

“ The people in the meantime determined 
to make Him king, and, on one occasion, 
when it pleased Him to make a public entry 
into Jerusalem, the people followed Him, 
carrying palm branches, and strewing their 
garments in His way, while they cried aloud, 
f Hosanna to the Son of David ! Blessed is 
He who cometh in the Name of the Lord.’ 

But the Blessed Jesus Whose kingdom 
was not of this world, hid Himself from 
them, and these very people, only a few days 
after, forgetful of the benefits they had re- 
ceived from Him, and yielding to the mali- 
cious suggestions of their priests, who envied 
Him, and sought to take away His life, 
loaded Him with insults, and demanded 
that He should be put to death.” 

“ How wicked ! how very wicked !” sobbed 
the Indian boy, while his dark flashing eyes 


Tlie Green Island, 123 

glistened through the tears he could no 
longer restrain. 

It was but a few nights after His entry 
into Jerusalem, that being at supper with 
His disciples, our Lord, to give us an exam- 
ple of humility, condescended to wash their 
feet and dried them with a towel. Then, 
resuming His place at the supper table. He 
uttered the fearful announcement that one 
of these. His chosen ones, would betray 
Him. Yes, alas! there was a traitor amongst 
them, who, for a few pieces of silver, had 
agreed with the envious priests, to deliver 
Him into their hands.” 

The young Indian’s eyes sparkled with 
fierce fire, and his countenance showed all the 
wild passions of his untamed race, when 
provoked to fury, while in a voice half stifled 
with indignation and sorrow, he gave utter- 
ance to the feelings of his soul. 

If I was there that night, and was as big 
as my fathef* and had his spear and his 
arrows, I would have killed that false bad 
man myself.” 

“ Then would our Blessed Lord have been 
not well pleased with you, for when after- 


12A 


The Gtren Island, 


wards one of His Apostles drew his sword 
to defend Him, He desired him to sheathe it, 
telling him that if He only asked His Father, 
He would send Him legions of angels to 
defend Him. His words were the cause of 
much grief and consternation to the faith- 
ful eleven, but He gave them to understand 
who was the traitor, and they were very 
sorrowful. Then did our Lord take bread 
and blessed it, gave It to them, saying, ‘Take 
and eat This, for This is My Body, That 
shall be given for you.’ Then He took the 
cup with wine, and blessed it and gave It 
to them, saying, ‘ Drink ye all of This, for 
This is the Chalice of My Blood of the New 
Testament, Which shall be shed for you and 
for many, for the remission of sins.’ 

“And this was the first Mass, the institu- 
tion of the Most Holy Sacrament of the 
Altar in which He continues, and will con- 
tinue, to be to the end of the world really 
present with His Church, having left to His 
Apostles the power of celebrating the same 
Divine Mystery which from them has con- 
tinued to descend to their lawfully appointed 
successors. But tell me, my young friend, 
are you ready to believe all this ? ' 


The Green Island. 


129 


Mother will adopt you for her son, and your 
own dear guardian angel, and St. Joseph, 
will give great glory and praise to God for 
His goodness to you. We shall leave off 
now, for you have heard quite sufficient to 
think of during the day ; to-morrow the sub- 
ject of our conversation shall be the Suffer- 
ings and Death of our Divine Lord, which 
almost immediately followed the institution 
of the Blessed Sacrament. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

B HEN Reginald and his young com- 
panion returned home, the minds 
of both were so deeply impressed 
with the greatness of the Divine 
Mysteries that had so lately occupied 
their attention, that neither felt disposed 
to pay much regard to the joyful indications 
of good will with which their return was 
welcomed, as usual, by the harmless mem- 
bers of their household, who nevertheless 
bore their seeming neglect with the utmost 
good humor, taking their accustomed places 


130 


The Green Island, 


in perfect harmony. Colombe, who went 
and returned with them, perching as usual 
(without any ceremony) on Reginald’s arm. 
The remainder of the day passed away in 
undisturbed tranquility, as indeed, did every 
day, for the little family lived in complete 
concord. 

The next morning beheld the two friends 
seated in the little church, their attention 
riveted on a small painting of the Crucifixion 
which Reginald held in his hand. It was 
one that he found in the box with the books 
already mentioned. The little Indian’s dark 
eyes were glistening through his tears, for 
Reginald was recounting the mournful events 
that attended the sufferings of our Lord. 

He had got as far as the entrance of our 
Lord Jesus with His eleven Apostles into 
the garden of Olives, and had told how He 
led three of them apart and bade them 
watch with Him while He prayed a little way 
off, for His Soul was sorrowful even unto 
death, when he was interrupted by the voice 
of his youthful auditor exclaiming, “And 
the dear bright Lady His Mother, where 
was she then ?” 


The Green Island. 13 1 

We may easily believe/' resumed Regi- 
! nald, “ that she who was the ever faithful 
1 companion of her Son, as far as possible 
I following in His way, was not far from Him 
I on that sad night, and that her heart was 
penetrated with grief for the sufferings she 
knew but too well awaited her Divine Son. 
But to proceed, our Blessed Lord prayed 
to His Eternal Father that, if it were His Will, 
that bitter chalice, by which He meant His 
passion, might pass away from Him, but He 
submitted entirely to His Almighty Father’s 
Will, and so great was the Agony He en- 
dured, that His Sacred Blood gushed from 
every Pore and stained His garments and 
the earth on which He lay.” 

The little Indian looked very mournfully 
into Reginald’s face, but remained silent. 

Our Lord repeated His prayer thrice. 
But there would have been no redemption 
for us if His Adorable Blood were not shed 
to purchase it, and the Eternal Son would 
not retract the Offering of Himself as a Sac- 
rifice forthe sins of the world. His Heavenly 
P'ather, however, sent one of His angels to 
comfort Him, who raised Him up and 


32 


The Green Island. 


adored Him. The angel being gone, He re- 
turned to His disciples, and just then a party 
of armed men came and seized Him, 
which in mercy to us He permitted them to 
do. The next day, having most cruelly 
scourged Him at a pillar, and pressed a 
crown of sharp thorns on His Sacred Head, 
they led Him to a hill not far from the city, 
and nailed Him to a cross, as you see here 
represented on the crucifix, upon which He 
expired, after having prayed to His Father 
to forgive His cruel enemies. Have we not i 
then a just cause to venerate the sacred cru- 
cifix which continually reminds us of the 
Infinite Goodness of our dear Saviour ?” 

The Indian boy could only answer by his 
tears, but ^fter a silence of some moments, \ 
he said, sorrowfully, “ And His bright 
Mother ?” 

“ Was with Him all the time : she never 
left Him until His Sacred Body was taken 
down from the cross and laid in a sepulchre." 

“ But He is not there now 1 Did you not 
teach me to say. He rose again from the 
dead?’^ 

“ You are perfectly right, my child,'' said 


The Green Island. 


133 


Reginald; *'our Saviour rose again on the 
third day, glorious and immortal, from the 
tomb, and remained on earth forty days to 
show that He was risen indeed. But I 
should have told you that when our Blessed 
Lord expired upon the cross, a fearful dark- 
ness covered the whole earth, and the rocks 
were rent, and there was also a terrible earth- 
quake, and the graves opened, and the dead 
arose and were seen by many, for all nature 
was convulsed with horror when the God of 
nature died.’" 

“But what was done to the had men who 
had Him crucified?” 

“ Many of them \\jere converted at the 
sight of the prodigies I have related, and 
vast numbers, taught afterwards by the 
Apostfes, believed and acknowledged Him 
for their Saviour; but the greater number 
remained hardened in their unbelief, and the 
sentence denounced against them remains 
in force even to this day, for their descend- 
ants are no longer a nation, but are scat- 
tered throughout the whole world, without 
a temple and without a king."" 

‘*But did not the Lord ascend again to 
heaven ?” 


134 


TJie Grem Island. 


did. Having remained forty days | 
on eartn, He ascended into heaven from the | 
top of Mount Olivet, accompanied by a vast | 
number of angels, and the holy souls of the | 
good • people who could not enter heaven | 

until, by His death and Passion, He opened | 

its everlasting doors to mankind.’' > 

And you tell me Pie is there still,” said { 
the boy, inquiringly ; “ but is He not some- 
where else ? Have you not said that He 
would be always with us, when we talked | 
about what He did when He was at supper > 
with the good men ?” ? 

‘‘God is always with us,” answered his | 
friend; “ Plis Majesty fills the heavens and 
the earth. But our Blessed Saviour, as I ! 
have already- told you, remains with us in an \ 
especial manner in the Most Holy Sacra- 
ment of the Altar; and we must continue ^ 
to pray more and more to our Lady, to ask 
her dear Son to send us a priest to celebrate 
that Holy Sacrament here.” 

“Yes, yes,” cried the Indian boy, with a 
degree of impetuosity that startled his patient 
instructor, “we will pray to her and she 
will hear us some time. But I want to know 


The G 7 ‘een Island. 135 

what she did when her Son went up into the 
sky/’ 

When our Lord was upon the cross He 
commended her to the care of one of the 
Apostles whom He tenderly loved. This 
was St. John the Evangelist, whom He also 
commended to her as a son, and she dwelt 
in his house during the remaining years she 
lived in this world. When it pleased God 
the time should draw near for Him to take 
her to His Eternal Kingdom, she prayed to 
flier Son that all the holy Apostles might 
be present at her departure ; and her petition 
did not ascend in vain, for they were, with 
the exception of St. Thomas, all miracu- 
lously transported from the various countries 
in which they were to be present at the 
deathbed of their dear Lady and Queen. 
Their presence was welcomed with maternal 
affection by the Virgin Mother, with whom 
they remained till it was God’s Holy Will 
to take her to Himself; and when her 
blessed soul had departed from her pure 
body, the Apostles carried her blessed re- 
mains to the sepulchre, and remained there 
for three days, keeping watch night and day. 


1 36 The Green Islayid. 

All that time they heard a most sweet and 
celestial harmony of angelic voices, singing 
around her tomb ; but on the third day it 
ceased, and was heard no more, and they 
were preparing to depart, when St. Thomas 
(who was, as I told you before, the only one 
of the Apostles who was absent from the 
deathbed of the glorious Mother of God,) 
arrived at the sepulchre, grievously lament- 
ing that he had not come in time to see her 
while yet living, and, at his earnest request, 
they took compassion upon him, and opened 
the sepulchre that he might at least have 
the consolation of beholding her blessed 
body ; but how great was their astonishment 
and indeed their joy to find only the linen 
in which she was enfolded remaining in the 
sepulchre, together with a quantity of lilies 
and roses that gave a most delightful fra- 
grance, but the virginal body of the Mother 
of God was not there. Her Divine Son 
could not suffer the pure body from which 
His own Sacred Humanity was taken, to see 
corruption, but had by His Omnipotent 
Power assumed her both body and soul, into 
heaven where He crowned her Queen of 


TJie Green Island. 


137 


Angels and Saints, and fixed her throne of 
immortal glory next to His Own, while all 
the heavenly host acknowledged her their 
Queen, and the sweet anthem, ‘ Hail Mary ! 
Mother of God! Queen of heaven and earth!’ 
filled the bright regions of bliss with har- 
mony/' 

“ ‘ Hail Mary ! Mother of God! Queen of 
heaven and earth !’ ” echoed the soft sweet 
voice of the Indian boy, whose bright eyes, 
sparkling with intelligence and hope, pro- 
claimed in their silent eloquence, how joy- 
fully and how truly he exulted in the as- 
sumption and coronation of the Queen of 
Heaven. 

I wish I could see her !’' he said. ** Do 
you think she will Jet me look at her with 
my own eyes ?” 

‘‘She has sometimes, though rarely, ap- 
peared to some of her chosen servants, but I 
cannot take upon myself to say that she will 
be pleased to confer so great a privilege 
upon you.” 

“But she will listen to me when I pray to 
her, and she will help us and will not leave 
us without a Black Robe." 


138 


The Green Island. 


*‘She helps all her children, my little 
friend/' said Reginald. “ One of her titles, 
is, ‘ Our Lady, the Help of Christians.’ ” 
The Indian boy’s eyes filled with tears; 
Reginald understood him. 

“ But you desire with all your heart to 
become a Christian ? Do not be cast down> 
you will soon, I hope, have the happiness of 
receiving the sacrament of Holy Baptism.'' 

“ And our Lady, the Help of Christians# 
will help me in the meantime, will she not?” 

“ Most assuredly she will. Do you not 
recollect that our Lady, the Help of Christ- 
ians, is also the Mother of Mercy ?” 



The Green Island. 


139 


CHAPTER XIV. 

our Lady, the Help of Christians, 
did help her youthful suppliant. Not 
many days after, a Spanish vessel 
homdward bound,. anchored near the 
Green Island, put out a boat to get a fresh 
supply of water, having run short of that 
necessary article. 

There was an aged Jesuit Father on board, 
whose years did not prevent him from ac- 
companying the sailors in the boat, so great 
was his anxiety to discover if the island was 
inhabited and if so, whether by Christians 
or pagans. 

It was a bright morning. The sea sparkled 
in the sunlight, the woods and valleys of the 
Green Island were echoing to the matin 
songs of the fearthered choristers, when 
Reginald and his little Indian companion, 
attracted by the splashing of the oars and 
the songs of the sailors as the boat neared 
the land, hastened to the beach. To their 
inexpressible astonishment and delight, they 
saw the vessel lying at anchor not far from 


140 The Green Island, 

the shore, and the boat’s crew, who had just 
landed, busily employed in arranging their 
water casks along the strand. 

Reginald stood for some moments, alter- 
nately gazing at the ship and the sailors on 
shore, but too much overpowered by his own 
feelings to make any distinct observation, 
till recalled to himself by the voice of the 
young Indian joyfully exclaiming : 

‘‘Cur Lady, the Help of Christians, our 
own dear Mother of Mercy has heard us 
and helped us ! Look yonder ! look yonder ! 
there is a Black Robe.” 

Then it was, Reginald for the first time 
beheld the venerable father, whose eyes 
were at that moment directed in fixed atten- 
tion to the place where they stood. 

He drew near and they advanced to meet 
him ; and a few moments sufficed for mutual 
explanation. The first idea was to take 
Reginald and the Indian boy on board the 
ship and convey them to Europe, but the 
idea was soon discarded. The vessel was 
already overcrowded with passengers, and 
it was not likely the captain would consent 
to add to the number. 


The Green Island. 


141 


“ But you must not be discouraged upor. 
that account/’ said the Father ; “ for it is in 
contemplation to send missionaries from 
Lima to explore these islands, many of 
which are believed to be inhabited, and some 
of our Fathers have applied to a rich mer- 
chant for a passage on board one of his ships 
this year ; and, as he is a zealous Catholic, 
and willing to contribute to the utmost of 
his power in the propagation of the faith, I 
have not the least doubt of his cheerfully 
granting their request. In the meantime, 
you may rest assured that I shall avail 
myself of the first opportunity to make known 
your abode upon the island.’' 

The Father, who was an Englishm.an, 
spoke in that language, of which the young 
Indian had already acquired sufficient know- 
ledge to be able to comprehend tolerably 
well the substance of what the reverend 
father said. 

But will you not stay with us now?” he 
exclaimed in the same language, intelligibly 
enough, “you for whom we have prayed so 
long to our dear Lady, now that she has 
heard us, and sent you here, she will not be 
well pleased with you if you leave us.” 


142 TJie Green Island. 

I would gladly remain here,” said Father 
Mowbray, for that was his name, “but I am' 
obliged to proceed immediately to Spain 
on business of importance, in obedience to 
the command of my superior.” 

“ Then why did ’^ou come at all ?” sobbed 
the Indian boy. 

“ I wished to ascertain if the island was 
inhabited, and if so, if the people were 
Christians.’’ v 

‘‘ Then make a Christian me,” quickly 
answered the boy, “ I have\begged our 
dear Lady to send us a good Black Robe, 
who would baptize me ; and I want to see 
the lights shining, and the garments with 
the fine flowers, and to see the silver cup, 
and see the smoke that smells so sweet, and 
if you are a Black Robe cannot you do all 
this ?” 

“I can, and will baptize you, my child,” 
said the Father, kindly, “but time will not 
allow me to do more at present. As soon 
as the sailors have filled their casks, I must, 
of necessity, return with them to the ship. 
But our dear Lady will be watchful over 
your abode here, she will intercede with her 


The Green Island, 143 

Divine Son in you behalf, and He will in 
His own good time send you a father to 
supply all that is wanting to your spiritual 
necessities/' 

It will be full two hours at least," said 
Reginald, “before the sailors can fill their 
casks and carry them from the river to the 
boat, we shall therefore have time to show you 
our church, where, if you please, you can 
confer upon my little Indian friend the bles- 
sing he is so anxious to obtain, and from 
thence you can accompany us to our abode 
and see the rest of the family." 

The Black Robe looked rather surprised 
at the latter intimation. 

“There is only our Colombo," cried the 
boy, “and Robin, and — but you will see 
them all when you come." 

“ I shall be very happy," said the Father, 
smiling, “ for I daresay I shall find a very 
amiable party to welcome me." 

Reginald and the overjoyed Indian con- 
ducted the good Father to the sylvan church, 
which he contemplated with satisfaction 
and pleasure, so extraordinary was the in- 
genuity displayed by the young architect in 


144 


The Green Island. 


its erection, and the skilful arrangement of 
the ornaments with which it was decorated. 
And there before the little altar, fragrant with 
many colored sweet smelling flowers bloss- 
oming on the trees and shrubs that clustered 
around it, the venerable Father imparted to 
the young Indian the Sacrament of Holy Bap- 
tism, in which at the boy’s own request he 
received the name of Joseph, and having 
offered up their grateful thanksgivings to 
Almighty God, and poured forth the warm 
effusions of their hearts in joyful salutations 
to the Sacred Virgin Mother for the bless- 
ings obtained through her intercession, (the 
young neophyte not forgetting to commend 
himself to the care of St. Joseph,) they all 
proceeded to the abode of the two friends, 
where Colombe, far from being disconcerted 
by the advent of their venerable guest, 
fluttered around him to testify her satisfac- 
tion at his arrival, while the little Robins 
too did not fear to approach, but came hop- 
ping around him. The other inmates were 
speedily reconciled to the presence of their 
friendly visitor. 

Reginald produced the choicest of his 


The Green Island. 145 

store to regale the aged Father, who cheer- 
fully partook of the refreshments so kindly 
offered. It was with no small satisfaction 
that Reginald learned from Father Mowbray, 
that he was well acquainted with Father de 
Tracy, who would, it was by no means 
unlikely, be one of the Fathers appointed to 
visit the island. And to augment Joseph’s 
happiness, who was almost frantic with joy 
since his baptism, Reginald having briefly 
related all he knew of the child’s history. 
Father Mowbray told them there was an 
Indian at that very time on board the ship, 
who was a Christian, and a native of the 
island of which tht boy’s father was the chief 
This man had in his hearing given an 
account of the flight of Agnes with her young 
charge, for whose supposed loss she was in- 
consolable, having herself with the others 
who were in the canoe providentially escaped 
from a watery grave. 

By this time the sailors having filled their 
casks, and being ready to depart, Reginald 
and Joseph accompanied the venerated 
Black Robe to the shore, and having assisted 
him into the boat, they watched it till it 


146 


The Green Island, 


reached the vessel which was speedily under 
weigh, the two friends remaining on the 
beach, till she was lost to sight. 


CHAPTER XV. 

^JUR Lady the Help of Christians, will be 
sure to send us a Black Robe again 
W before long,” said Joseph, looking 
^ anxiously at his friend as they turned 
from the shore and directed their steps 
homeward. 

“ We may be sure she will never be un- 
mindful of us, but we must wait with patience . 
till the appointed time comes when it will 
please Almighty God, moved by her mater- 
nal supplications, to grant the blessing we 
are so anxious to obtain ; and now that you are 
a Christian you can pray to Him with more 
love, more hope, and more confidence, and 
beg of His Blessed Mother with increasing 
fervor, to continue to advocate your cause.” 

“ And St. Joseph — and the bright angel ; 

I must ask them to pray for me,” said he. 

“And you may be sure they will not re-^: 
^ject your petition,” added Reginald. J 


The Green Island, 


147 


How good God is,” resumed the boy, 
“ how very good, to listen to a poor little 
Indian boy even before he was a Christian, 
and the dear bright Lady, His Mother — is 
she not good to listen to me?’' And thus 
conversing they reached home, where the 
never failing welcome of their harmless 
household awaited them. 

Days, weeks, and months again passed 
away, but nothing occurred cither to engage 
theirattention, or animate their hope. Joseph 
was becoming hourly more impatient for 
the arrival of the long expected ship, with a 
Black Robe on board, but Reginald, though 
he sighed in secret for the coming of the 
vessel, carefully concealed from his Indian 
companion his uneasiness at its long pro- 
tracted delay. 

It was nearly twelve months after Father 
Mowbray’s visit to the island, when Regi- 
nald one day while employed in making 
some addition to their abode, fell down and 
sprained his ankle, an accident which, thoi^h 
it Seemed trivial, compelled him to stay at 
home for some days. Joseph in the mean- 
time was indefatigable in his attendance 


The Green Island. 


'148 

upon him, never leaving him, except to pay 
a daily visit to the church. It happened, 
however, that one day when Reginald’s 
ankle was nearly well, but not sufficiently to 
allow him to walk many steps at a time, 
Joseph, whose return from his visit to the 
church he was anxiously expecting, did not 
make his appearance at the usual time. 
Aware that the boy would not willingly pro- 
tract his absence, Reginald began to fear 
that some accident had befallen him; and 
after waiting a considerable time, determined 
to make an effort to discover if possible, the 
cause of his non-appearance. 

He made the effort, but the exertion was 
too much for his sprained ankle, and he was 
compelled to return painfully to his home, 
where he sat silent and sad. 

Hour after hour he waited, but Joseph did 
not return, and Reginald’s fears for the 
boy’s safety became insupportable. He 
limped painfully to the door and called aloud, 
“Joseph! Joseph! Joseph!” again and again, 
biff there was no response. There was one 
little creature, however, who seemed to 
understand the cause of his anxiety and djs- 


The Green Island. 


149 


tress; that one was Colombe. She was well 
accustomed to hear him call Joseph, and to 
see the boy’s never failing appearance at the 
call. What her ideas were, I shall not pretend 
to define, but she came cooing and flutter- 
ing around Reginald and then away she flew. 

Poor Reginald knew not what to think. 
He watched on, and the summer evening 
was progressing -to its close ; he was sad, 
very sad, and instinctively took out his 
Rosary, and, hardly conscious of what he was 
doing, he commenced reciting it for the safe 
return of his young companion. 

^ He had just concluded the chaplet when 
he was startled by the arrival of Colombo^ 
who, if she did not bring an olive branch in 
her bill, brought what at that moment was 
infinitely more welcome to Reginald, for 
close behind, weary enough, and with a 
countenance that spoke volumes, followed 
the Indian boy. 

^‘Joseph, Joseph!” exclaimed Reginald, 
what has happened to you ? I attempted 
to go in search of you, but was compelled to 
return.” 

I thought you would,” said Joseph, pant- 


150 The Green Island. 

ing for breath. ‘‘ But you won’t be angry 
when you know all; and you will thank our 
dear Lord, and His Blessed Mother and good 
St. Joseph, and the bright angels, when you 
hear what I have to say. And pretty 
Colombe there, if it had not been for her, I 
would never have found you again.” 

He could say no more, exhausted with 
fatigue, and agitated by feelings he could not 
control, he sank down at Reginald’s feet, 
and burst into tears. 

“ Don’t try to speak any more now,” said 
Reginald, affectionately taking bis hand. 
“You are safe and lam happy, come and 
take some food, and you will be able to tell 
me what has happened, or to-morrow morn- 
ing if you like it better, I will hear all you 
have got to say.” 

The Indian boy looked gratefully at his 
kind friend, and having silently partaken of 
the food placed before him, turned to Regi- 
nald, and said, “ I am too much tired now, 
to-morrow you shall hear all.” 

Reginald kindly agreed, and in a few mo- 
ments more his little friend was fast asleep. 

The next morning Joseph took the first 
opportunity of relating what had happened. 


The Greeit Island. 


151 

left our dear little church/’ he said,. 
“ after I had said my Rosary and arranged 
the flowers on the altar, and was on my way 
home when, looking towards the sea, I saw 
far, far off, one, two, three, four canoes, and 
there were men in them, and they fought, 
and I lay down that they might not see me, 
for I wanted to come here to tell you, but 
before very long they all went away, and I 
watched to see that none of them would 
return. Presently I saw a man in the water, 
who was struggling very much to get to this 
island : he could swim very well, and, as he 
got nearer to the land, I could see that he 
looked like a chief, and I was very sad, for I 
did notknowwhatweshoulddoifhe gothere. 
He did get upon the land, where, you know, 
the two palm trees are growing near the 
shore, that is a good way from the place 
where I lay, and I thought of running home 
to you, but just then I could sec that he was 
wounded and bleeding, and he tried to 
staunch the blood with his robe, and was 
endeavoring to make his way into the wood, 
and so I got up and followed him, and I 
could see he was getting fainter and fainter; 


152 


TJie Green Island, 


I managed to keep him in sight without being 
seen, but just as I had nearly come up to him, 
he gave a very loud groan and fell down 
upon the cold earth, and I ran to him, and 
his robe of skins was covered with blood, 
and I looked in his face, and I saw it was 
my father/’ 

For some moments Joseph remained silent. 
Reginald did not speak, and the boy con- 
tinued — 

“ I talked to him, and he knew me, and 
said he was very sorry for what he did to 
my mother, and that he was dying himself 
now. I cried, and he cried, and I spoke to 
him of the good Black Robes, and I said I 
was a Christian now, and I told him what 
you told me, and he said he would be a 
Christian, and I ran to the river and brought 
water in a cocoa-nut shell, and baptized him 
just as you told me, and as the Black Robe 
said ; and then he looked very glad, and I 
told him he would see my mother in heaven, 
and I said I would go and bring you, but he 
uttered some words very faintly, telling me 
he could not live, so I stayed with him, and 
he died very soon after he was baptized, 

v. 


TJie Green Island. 


153 


saying, ‘Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,' as I told 
him. I got moss and leaves and covered 
him over as well I could, and I knew it was 
getting late, so I marked the place with 
palm branches and turned my steps Home- 
ward, as I thought, but my eyes were filled 
with tears, and, after a while I found I had 
gone astray. I tried to find the right way,, 
but the more I tried, the farther I went out 
of my way, and I cried very loud and called 
your name, but you did not hear me, and I 
thought I should have been in the wood all 
night, when, all at once, our dear Colombe 
came cooing and flying to me, and then I 
thought our dear Lady had sent her, and I 
thought of the dear bright angel. Colombe 
flew on before me, and I followed her, and 
to my great joy we were soon at our dear 
little church, where I rested for a while, and 
prayed to our Lady to pray for my Christian 
father’s soul, and then, with our pretty 
Colombe, I got here at last.” 

“You are a dear good boy,” said Regi- 
nald, “ and will, I hope, in the time to come, 
be the happy instrument of bringing many 
souls to the Church of God. The favor it 


154 The Green Island. 

has pleased Almighty God to give you in 
sending you so unexpectedly to baptize your 
dying father, is, I trust, but the pledge of 
your future labors in the holy cause/’ 

“ You mean that I shall be a Black Robe,” 
said Joseph ; “ I am sure you do ; you have 
said as much before.” 

” There is nothing impossible to God,’' 
was the reply. 

“ Then I will pray more and more.” 

And so must I, Joseph,” said Reginald. 

But I feel so much better, I will try to go 
with you and help you to bury your poor 
father.” 

Joseph gave a look of gratitude, and the 
two friends, although Reginald was not 
altogether free from pain, set out for the 
spot, where Joseph had covered his dead 
father with leaves, and, with what rude in- 
struments were at their disposal, at length 
succeeded in effecting their charitable pur- 
pose, and committed the body of the Indian 
chief to the earth, their hearts overflowing 
with gratitude for the Divine Mercy so 
wonderfully shown to him. Having com- 
pleted their pious duty, the two friends 


The Grem Island. 


155 


returned home, and Reginald, in a few days, 
happily recovered from the effects of his 
late accident. 


CHAPTER XVI. 

went on, but still no ship visited 
the island. All things, however, 
^ went on well with its few inhabitants. 

Their yams, bread fruit trees, Indian 
corn, and vines, were flourishing in a high 
degree of perfection. They had abundance 
of milk, having brought home another family 
of young goats to the great dissatisfaction 
of their little old friends. 

One day in the summer of the succeeding 
year, Joseph being, so far as Reginald could 
guess, in his fourteenth year, the two friends 
were returning by the seaside from their 
woodland church earnestly engaged in con- 
versation on the glories of Mary, when 
Reginald suddenly exclai med,“ Look yonder, 
Joseph! look yonder! surely there is a ship! 
the Mother of Mercy has heard our pray- 
ers 


156 


The Green Island. 


Joseph looked in the direction pointed 
out by his friend, and saw far off in the dis- 
tance something rising on the bosom of the 
ocean, from which neither he nor Reginald 
could turn their strained eyes, till, as it ad- 
vanced nearer and nearer, both were satisfied 
to their inexpressible joy, that it was indeed 
a ship, evidently bound for the island. It 
is needless to say that neither left the shore ; 
there they stood long and silently watching 
the vessel’s approach. Joseph at length 
broke silence. 

Now, if there is a Black Robe on board, 
we shall have the bright garments, and the 
lights, and the smoke and — 

“ It is very possible,” said Reginald, inter- 
rupting him, “ I can now discern her colors: 
she is a Spanish vessel.” 

Reginald was right, and when the ship 
neared the land sufficiently to enable them 
to distinguish the persons on board, a shout 
of triumphant exultation burst from the lips 
of the Indian boy, and, in the next instant, 
he exclaimed, “ See, see ; just look yonder ; 
is not that a Black Robe ?” 

** You must moderate your impatience, 


The Green Island. 157 

my little friend,” said Reginald, smiling at 
the boy’s impetuosity. 

'‘But I want to know at once, if I am 
right,” quickly replied the boy. “ Do now 
only look there and tell me if you do not 
see a Black Robe?’* 

“ If I can see clearly, I think you are not 
mistaken, for I can perceive the wings of his 
robe gently waving in the breeze.” 

They waited a little longer, and at length 
their patience was rewarded. The vessel 
continued to approach the shore, and event- 
ually anchored at a short distance from the 
island, to which a boat’s crew, having with 
them the long wished-for Black Robe, the 
captain, and Agnes with her husband and 
brothers, put off without delay. The light- 
hearted mariners sang, as they gaily plied 
their oars : 

“Ave Maris Stella, 

Dei Mater Alma, 

Atqiie Semper Virgo, 

Felix Coeli Porta.” 

As soon as the boat had reached the 
shore, Reginald and Joseph hastened to 
welcome their long expected visitors. But 
what words can describe his surprise and 


The Green Island. 


158 

joy when Joseph at once recognized in the 
venerable missionary, the aged father who 
had baptized his mother. The recognition 
was mutual, for Joseph’s was not a face to 
be easily forgotten; but amidst their con- 
gratulations, his tears flowed in abundance, 
while his sensitive heart recalled to mind his 
mother’s fate, and the subsequent baptism 
of his dying father, by the almost miracu- 
lous instrumentality of his own filial piet}-. 

It was sometime before he could with- 
draw his eyes from Father de Tracy, for he 
indeed it was, who had (in consequence of 
communications received from Father Mow- 
bray) obtained permission to seek his 
nephew on the Green Island, and, if circum- 
stances should render it expedient, he was 
at liberty to remain there until the arrival 
of a Father who could continue to reside 
there. There were many passengers on 
board, whose intention it was to settle on the 
island, if they found it likely, with proper 
cultivation, to afford subsistence for them- 
selves and families. 

The sound of approaching voices at 
length startled Joseph, he look around, and. 


The Green Island. 


159 


in the same instant, his eyes encountered 
those of his kind nurse, Agnes, who was 
gazing upon him with a look of maternal 
tenderness, fondly expecting the moment of 
recognition by the dear child of her martyred 
mistress. Brief, indeed, was her suspense, 
for uttering a loud wild cry of joy, Joseph 
rushed to her arms, and laughed and wept 
alternately, at one time rejoicing at their 
unexpected meeting, and the next moment 
deploring the fate of his dear mother. 

The captain, in the meantime, had handed 
a letter to Reginald. It was from the owner 
of the vessel, to whom Father Mowbray 
had found an opportunity of communicating 
intelligence of the abode of Reginald and 
Joseph upon the island. The kind-hearted 
merchant had, therefore, sent out the vessel 
for the express purpose of conveying Rcgi nald 
and his companion to Lima, where he would 
be happy to receive them as guests, till they 
were able to make arrangements for the 
future, adding, that the ship would remain 
for some days at the island to allow those 
who came thither on speculation, time to de- 
cide what course they would finally adopt. 


i6o The Green Islajid. 

The meeting of Reginald with his uncle 
was joyful in the extreme. They had never 
seen each other till that moment, but Regi- 
nald at once recognized the perfect resem- 
blance of the aged priest, to the portrait on 
-which he had so often gazed in childhood, 
although the raven locks that had shaded his 
temples were now become white as snow, 
and Father de Tracy’s penetrating eyes, in 
his turn, had traced on Reginald’s young 
brow, with all the sympathy of kindred 
affection, the well remembered lineaments 
of his beloved brother, and both uncle and 
nephew poured forth the warm effusions of 
their grateful hearts, in thanksgiving to God 
for the happiness they experienced. Neither 
was the Mother of Mercy forgotten, to whose 
powerful advocacy they felt indebted for all 
the blessings they received. 

Reginald’s next care was to invite his new 
friends to visit his habitation, an invitation 
that was cheerfully accepted. With his 
uncle and the captain, followed by the sail- 
ors, he Ipd the way to his abode, whither 
Joseph with Agnes and her husband had 
gone before, and where much confusion 


TJie Green Island. i6i 

amongst the household prevailed in conse- 
quence. When Reginald with his company 
arrived the confusion was redoubled; Co- 
lombe alone, with her usual prudence, wisely 
maintaining her self-possession. Having 
just fluttered about a little, she took her 
customary place upon Reginald’s shoulder, 
while the pretty little robins imitating her 
good example, kept chirping and peeping 
through the leaves- at the strangers, whose 
presence had so unseasonably disturbed their 
harmony. 

The sailors brought .with them an ample 
supply of wine and provisions, and the happy 
party partook of a hearty meal ; during 
which the rest of the family, though some- 
what timidly, the poor Id tortoise included, 
did not fail to make their appearance to the 
no small entertain: .ent of the company. 
Dinner being ove**, the captain proposed re- 
turning to the ship, inviting Reginald and 
Joseph to accompany them on board. 

Reginald, for himself and Joseph, declined 
the invitation for that time, lamenting that 
he had not then the means of accommo- 
dating F'ather de Tracey, for whose abode 


The Green Island. 


162 

upon the island he was most anxious to 
provide. 

“ Leave that to me/' said the captain, 
good humoredly,“ I will take it upon myself 
to provide all that is necessary, as soon as 
we can build him a house. will see you 
every day in the meantime, and, before we 
set sail, we shall see him with a nice little 
congregation around hiip.” 

The good captain’s suggestion was univer- 
sally applauded, and Reginald proposed a 
visit to his little church in the wood before 
his friends returned to the boat, as it was 
but a short distance from that part of the 
shore, where the boat lay. 

The proposal was agreeable to all, and 
their astonishment when contemplating the 
unpretending little structure, with i^s altar, 
crucifix, and other ornaments, cannot easily 
be described. One and all, they knelt be- 
fore the altar, and accompanied Father de 
Tracy in his evening devotions, their hearts 
overflowing with love to God, and gratitude 
to the glorious Mother of God for the favors 
obtained by her intercession. 

Having concluded their devotions, they 


The Green Island. 


63 


were leaving the church, when Joseph rushed 
forward and caught Father de Tracy’s hand, 
eydaiming, “I want to see you wear the 
robe's with the gold flowers and the lights, 
and — and — ” 

“I understand you, my child,” said the 
good father. And if it shall please heaven 
to bless my intention, I will celebrate Mass 
here to-morrow. 

Every face beamed with satisfaction, and 
they separated joyfully for the night, the 
captain and his company returning to their 
boat, while Reginald and Joseph took their 
homeward way. 

Joseph was awake early the next morning; 
and his young ideas were busily engaged 
on things of no light import. In vain he 
tried to sleep again, his mind and his heart 
were too intently fixed upon one all-absorb- 
ing expectation. wish Reginald was 
awake,” he murmured; but, notwithstanding 
the familiar terms on which they lived 
together, there was a feeling of respect min- 
gled with the friendship he cherished for his 
.benefactor, that rendered him unwilling to 
disturb his repose at so early an hour. A 


164 The Green Island. 

lucky expedient, however, presented itself to 
his imagination, and he speedily adopted it. 
Poor Colombe, fast asleep with her head 
comfortly lodged under her wing, was 
perched quietly over Reginald's head, and, 
without one conscientious scruple at the 
unkindness of disturbing her repose at so 
early an hour, Joseph suddenly startled her 
from the tranquil slumber in which her fac- 
ulties were so calmly wrapt. The gentle 
bird was of course alarmed, but seeing no 
one near of whom she had any cause to be 
in fea'r, after a flutter or two, contented her- 
self with cooing loudly to indicate her dis- 
pleasure at the indecorum of which Joseph 
had been guilty. 

The strategem was crowned with the de- 
sired success, Reginald was soon awakened 
from the sweetest sleep that had visited his 
pillow since his arrival on the island. He at 
first thought that some mischief had hap- 
pened to his dear little Colombe, and started 
up to discover the cause, when, perceiving 
no appearance of danger near her, his eyes 
fell upon the young Indian, who met his 
gaze with a countenance half glad and half 


The Green Island. 165 

fearful. Joseph was too noble-minded to 
think of hiding his fault, though he would 
willingly have avoided the mortification to 
which the acknowledgment would subject 
him. 

“What has happened to disturb us so 
early?” inquired Reginald, somewhat quickly. 
“ Have you been dreaming that a canoe full 
of your countrymen had landed on the 
island to dispute with us for its possession ?” 

“ I dreamt nothing,” said the young In- 
dian, somewhat proudly. 

“And what, then, has alarmed us?” de- 
manded Reginald. 

“ Why, then, if you must knot^, I could 
not sleep, I had so much to think of, and I 
tried again, and again, and I wanted to 
speak ail my thoughts; I did not like to 
awaken you myself, for fear you would be 
angry, and so I awakened our Colombo, and 
set her cooing as loud as she could, and 
so — ” 

“ And so,” said Reginald who could not 
avoid laughing at Joseph'^ confession, “you 
have for once in your life acted a very 
selfish part towards your quiet neighbors. 


1 66 The Green Islmid, 

for your own gratification; here is poor 
harmless Colombe at a loss to know what 
has caused all this disturbance, and if she 
awakens the other members of our house- 
hold, we shall never be able to pacify them;* 
however, you must not look so downcast, I 
can very well appreciate your feelings this 
morning. It is, I can see by the sun, about 
two hours earlier than our usual time of 
rising, but we will get ourselves in readiness 
now, and proceed at once to the church, 
where we may probably be joined by the 
venerable Father with our other friends, at 
an earlier hour than what we expect.” 

How good ! how good !” exclaimed the 
delighted Indian boy. “ There now, you 
know all I thought and all I meant, I wanted 
to get to the church in time ; and I wanted 
to make the altar very fine, and I wanted to 
gather fresh flowers, and I wanted to strew 
the leaves of some of them for a carpet, and 
I wanted — ” 

“ Don’t lose time, now, in telling me all 
you wanted to do,” said Reginald, good- 
humoredly, “ but get ready and come at once, 
and set about doing what is to be done.” 


TJie Green IsTand. 167 

Joseph’s eyes brightened with joyful ac- 
quiescence, and they were soon ready to 
depart. . Having first offered the sweet 
incense of their morning thanksgiving to 
Almighty God, and invoked the patronage 
of their dear Mother Mary, St. Joseph, and 
their guardian angels, they set out with 
cheerful hearts for their little church, the 
happy young Indian not forgetting to take 
little Colombe with him, which he did with 
a very good grace, cage and all ; and, as he 
used more speed than Reginald, had fixed 
his treasure, and her habitation, securely on 
the bough of an olive tree, at a little distance 
from the church, before his friend reached 
the spot. 

They did not come one moment too soon, 
for they found quite enough to do. Every 
obtrusive weed that had presumed to raise 
its offending head within the precincts, was 
carefully pulled up by the roots, while the 
pendant branches of the surrounding trees, 
that contributed to the strength and beauty 
of the little sanctuary," were tastefully fes- 
tooned with variegated blossoms of every 
brilliant tint, and the sweetest flowers were 


1 68 TJie Green Island. 

gathered and placed in fragrant abundance 
upon the altar ; neither was the carpet for- 
gotten, which, composed of Indian moss, 
spangled over with little white flowers, had 
a very . pretty effect. When the indefatiga- 
ble Joseph had done all he could, he v/ept 
that he could find no more to do; while 
Reginald, who could not but admire the zeal 
he showed in preparing for the long hoped 
for celebration of the first mass in the Green 
Island, observed with a smile : 

I must acknowledge you were in the 
right after all, my good Joseph. If we had 
all our work to do when Father de Tracy j 

comes, it would be very far in the day be- j 
fore we could have the happiness of hearing ! 
mass,” i 

“ But the lights ! The lights !” suddenly | 
exclaimed Joseph, as the recollection rushed 
upon him. “And, and where shall we — ” 

“ Be calm, my young friend,” said Regi- 
nald, meekly, “ Father de Tracy will come 
provided with all that is necessary for the 
due celebration of the Holy Sacrifice. Let 
us say the Holy Rosary in the meantime, I 
doubt not but the good Father will be here 


The Green Island. 169 

before we have finished it” Whilst they 
repeated the decades, the little parrots in the 
bushes, who were well acquainted with the 
familiar sounds, every now and then dis- 
tinctly responded, “ Hail Mary !” and, as 
Reginald had anticipated, they had not con- 
cluded the last Gloria, when they heard ap- 
proaching footsteps, and the next moment 
they beheld the venerable Father de Tracy, 
carrying a case that contained the holy 
vessels. The captain’s son, a youth about 
sixteen, and two sailors, followed, with boxes 
containing candles, candlesticks. Missal, 
vestments, and everything necessary for the 
celebration of the Sacred Mysteries, at 
which the captain, and as many of the sea- 
men as could be spared from the vessel, also 
came to assist. 



The Green Island. 


170 


CHAPTER XVII. 

g g PERCEIVE, my children,'' said Fa- 
ther de Tracy, looking at Regi- 
nald and Joseph, “that you have 



not been unmindful of the expect- 
ed coming of that God who will this 
day descend from his Throne of Everlasting 
Glory to visit us upon this humble altar, 
which your piety," he continued, directing his 
discourse to Reginald, “ has raised to His 
honor in this wilderness, and which both," 
he went on, looking kindly on the Indian 
youth, “ have so tastefully onamented for this 
solemn occasion.” \ 

Father de Tracy paused , and the ever- 
watchful Joseph took instant advantage of 
the opportunity his silence afforded to give 
vent to his anxiety that nothing should be 
wanting. 

“But, the bright shining lights. Father, 
like so many stars sparkling all around. If 
we only had them now, I could soon get 
fire, and then we should see them as I did 
once in my own island." 


The Green Island. 


179 


to each other. Judge, then, how great was 
my surprise, when I found he was the son 
of Philip Stanley, the friend and neighbor of 
my youthful years, and that you, my dear 
nephew, had been on board the same vessel 
with him, but he could not tell whether you 
had escaped or perished in the storm. He 
invited me to accompany him to his habita- 
tion, which was near at hand, that he might 
relate at large the sad fate of the Antelope 
and her unfortunate crew, his own preser- 
vation, and what had subsequently befallen 
him. 

‘ You will,' said he, * have ample time to 
return to your vessel nearly two hours 
before sunset. This island is inhabited, but 
the people are not numerous, and could you 
remain here, they would hail with delight 
the sojourn of a missionary upon the island.’ 
Without making him any reply, I accom- 
panied him home, and was soon comfortably 
seated, with Hubert and the old Indian, 
whose daughter, a young and handsome 
maiden, the affianced bride of Hubert, spread 
before me a plentiful supply of bread, fruit, 
and milk, and having made a slight repast. 


i8o The Green Island, 

I reminded Hubert of his promised narra- 
tive. He at once commenced, beginning at 
the time when he embarked with you on 
board the Antelope, on her homeward bound 
voyage to England. Proceeding with his 
relation, he came to that fearful moment of 
unutterable horror when the doomed ship 
was rocking over the abyss in which she 
was so shortly to be engulphed forever ; with 
the particulars of that sad catastrophe, 
however, you are but two well acquainted.' 
I shall therefore proceed to relate, as nearly* 
as possible in Hubert’s own words, what 
followed upon that moment of terror and dis- 
may, when, in the agony of despair, he called 
upon her to whom no one ever had recourse 
in vain. 

“ ‘ My cry for mercy was scarcely uttered, 
when the waves, with tremendous force, bore 
me away from the sinking vessel and the 
voracious jaws of the monster of the deep. 
I could not speak, my eyes grew dim, the 
waves washed over me, and I knew no more. 
How long I remained insensible, I cannot 
tell. But the first words I uttered when 
returning animation once more recalled me 


The Green Island. i8i 

to a sense of my situation, were, ‘ Mother of 
Mercy, I live, I have not called upon thee 
in vain/ With these words still trembling 
on my lips, I looked, around and found 
myself on the seashore, this friendly Indian 
and his daughter bending over me, and 
anxiously watching the symptoms of return- 
ing animation, which they hailed with the 
warmest expressions of satisfaction and joy. 

^ Fear not,’ said he, in English, ‘ I am 
not the foe of your nation, you are safe; and 
I will at once explain what you cannot now 
understand. 

‘ The mornhig rose fair and bright after 
the desolating storm that raged yesterday, 
and I bent my way to the beach to seek my 
canoe, which had been washed from the 
place where I had left her the preceding day. 
I had to walk a considerable distance before 
I discovered the place where she lay, over- 
turned by the force of the winds and waves. 
Close beside her, pale, cold, and apparently 
dead, amidst the sea-weed on the beach, I 
beheld your inanimate form; assisted by my 
daughter, who had accompanied me, I suc- 
ceeded in removing you, and in recalling 


The G7'em Island. 


182 

your dormant senses once more to recollec- 
tion and life.’ 

^ I was still very weak, yet I strove to 
express my gratitude, but was prevented by 
the Indian, who forbade the exertion, pro- 
posing at the same time to assist me to his 
dwelling where my clothes could be dried, 
while I reposed on his mat 

“ ‘ I suffered him and his daughter to lead 
me to their wigwam, where I received from 
both the kindest treatment, and, having 
shared their homely fare, I lay down on the 
mat, whilst the daughter took upon herself 
the task of drying my clothes. 

“ ^ I arose the next morning without feel- 
ing any ill effects from the hardships I had 
so recently endured, but I was listless and 
unhappy, notwithstanding my miraculous 
preservation. My misery increased, while 
memory recalled the sad events I had so lately 
witnessed, presenting to my scared imagi- 
nation the sinking vessel, the sailors washed 
one by one from the deck ; myself the sole 
survivor of the crew, and Reginald, the 
friend and companion of my youth. Mother 
of Mercy ! I exclaimed, is Reginald do Tracy 
no more! 


The Green Island. 


183 


* Compose yourself, young man,’ said the 
Indian gravely ; * leave these painful uncer- 
tainties to the all-wise dispensations of the 
Divine Will, and to her maternal care who 
is never invoked in vain. Be not surprised 
to hear me speak thus, Mariana my daughter, 
and I, are both Christians. One of the 
Fathers, who visited this island, taught me 
the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and, find- 
ing that Almighty God had given me grace 
to believe the holy things he told me, and 
that I had great veneration for the Blessed 
Mother of God, and was very desirous to 
become a Christian, he baptized me to my 
exceeding great joy. The good Father re- 
mained here for some years ; he was a native 
of England, and it was from him I acquired 
sufficient knowlege of the language of his 
country, to be now able to converse with 
you. During the Father’s stay upon the 
island, I married the daughter of a Spaniard, 
who had lived here for some years. The 
marriage ceremony was performed by the 
good Father, and he was recalled to Lima 
about two years after, but he baptized 
Mariana before he left the island. Now, 


184 The Green Island. 

that you know you are with friends and fellow 
Christians, resign yourself to the Divine Will, 
and wait with patience for the future.’ I 
endeavored to profit by his advice, and, as 
my strength returned, I accompanied him 
when he went hunting or fishing, and occa- 
sionally assisted him in the cultivation of the 
ground around his wigwam.’ 

“Here ended Hubert’s relation, to which I 
listened with infinite satisfaction, and, as it 
was getting late, he and the Indian accom- 
panied me to the ship, which I found would 
remain two days longer at the island. I 
availed myself of this to celebrate Holy 
Mass in a little deserted church there was 
upon the island, to the great joy of the few 
inhabitants. In compliance with their earn- 
est request, the marriage of Hubert and 
Mariana was solemnized before my depart- 
ure from the island.” 

Reginald’s joy was too great for expres- 
sion at the happy solution of the mystery, in 
which the fate of his earliest friend had so 
long remained enveloped. For the remain- 
der of the day he could speak of nothing but 
Hubert’s repentance, and the clemency and 
compassion of the Mother of God. 


TJie Green Island. 


185 


CHAPTER XIX. 


^^ATHER de Tracy said Mass daily 
in the little church, while the ship 
remained at the island, to the in- 
expressible joy of Reginald and Jo- 


seph ; and the gratitude of Joseph may 
well be imagined, when he was allowed to 
assist Reginald in serving Mass. 


But there was another long washed for 
blessing still wanting to consummate their 
happiness. Their prayers had not been un- 
heard, the Mother of Mercy had presented 
their petitions to her Divine Son, and the 
happy day at length arrived wEen Reginald 
and Joseph received the Holy Communion 
from the hands of the venerable Father de 
Tracy. Years had passed since Reginald 
had partaken of the Heavenly Banquet, but 
his confidence in the Divine goodness was 
thus happily rewarded. 

And Joseph, the child of the wild forest, 
whom Heaven had endowed with intellect- 
ual powers of no inferior order, during his 
preparation for the great event, showed a 


186 


The Great Island. 


capacity far beyond what might have been 
expected from his years. With how firm a 
faith, and with what inexpressible delight, 
kneeling by Reginald’s side in silent adora- 
tion, he reverently received the Bread of 
Life. A beam of celestial joy brightened on 
his young brow, when rising from his knees 
he returned with Reginald to his place, their 
hearts throbbing with gratitude and love. 

Reginald now spent the greater part of 
his time in preparing for their departure 
from the island. Agnes and her husband 
would gladly have kept Joseph with them, 
but neither Father de Tracy nor Reginald 
would consent to leave him behind. 

It was not without a certain degree of 
affectionate regret, as the day for their depart- 
ure drew near, that Reginald and Joseph 
visited the little church, which the one had 
constructed with so much care, and the other 
had been used to decorate with so much 
loving taste. 

Their garden, too, which they had culti- 
vated with so much labor, caused them a 
few silent tears; but they felt more than 
anything else the separation from the prettv 


The Green Island. 


187 


little robins and the other tame birds, and 
they patted the heads of the poor little un- 
conscious goats and commended them, with 
the old tortoise, to the charitable care of 
Agnes and her husband. 

“ But Colombe, our Colombo, who found 
me in the woods!” said Joseph. ‘‘You do 
not mean to leave her behind ; I will carry 
her myself all the way first. I told Father 
de Tracy all about her, and he smiled and 
Slid she might come.” 

“ It is far from being my intention,” replied 
Reginald, “to leave her behind, who, like 
myself, was preserved from perishing in the 
storm ; and I have no fear that wherever it 
may please God we should take up our 
abode, poor little Colombe will be denied 
admittance.” 

Joseph was satisfied, and his next care 
was to see if her cage wanted any repairs, 
and finding the door was somewhat out of 
order, he made up his mind to set about 
putting it to rights without delay; another 
thought, however, struck him at the moment, 
and for the present the cage remained un- 
disturbed. 


1 88 The Green I slatid. 

The next day the ship was in sight, on 
board of which was the Father who was to 
remain on the island ; and Joseph knew that, 
in two days after the Father’s arrival, the 
ship that had brought Father de Tracy, 
would sail with himself and Reginald. He 
had, then, no time to lose, for his soul was 
intent on the performance of one sad duty, 
which his young heart felt was a testimony 
of filial regard for the memory of his repent- 
ant and baptized father. 

He led Agnes and her husband to his 
father’s grave, which he had marked with 
a cross composed of colored pebbles, shells, 
and flowers collected by his own hands. 

He lies here,” he said, looking sorrow- 
fully at Agnes. “ I found him dying in the 
wood. But he died a Christian; I baptized 
him myself; I taught him to call upon Jesus 
and Mary, and he died praying. I know 
God has forgiven him, and you must not 
think any more of the Indian chief who 
smote my mother, but of my Christian father, 
whose immortal soul is with the great good 
God.” 

Agnes could not refrain from tears, and, 


TJie Green Island. 


189 

with her husband and Joseph, kneeling on 
the poor Indian’s last resting place, offered 
up grateful thanksgivings to Almighty God 
and His Blessed Mother, for the conversion 
of the wild Indian chief, and repeated a “ De 
Profundis” for his everlasting rest 

Their devotions ended, they rose from their 
knees, when the affectionate boy planted 
some flower roots, he had brought with him, 
upon the mossy earth, that covered the 
remains of the once fierce, but repentent, 
American warrior. 

It may be,” said the youth, “ that in 
years to come I may again visit this place. 
But promise me,” he continued, addressing 
Agnes and her husband with mournful em- 
phasis, “promise me that you will sometimes 
come here, and pray, and watch, and tend 
the flowers I have planted with my own 
hand.” 

The promise was cordially given, and 
they returned together to the habitation, 
where Reginald, with his venerable uncle, 
was expecting their return. 

The brig, with the expected Father on 
board, had safely arrived at the island 
during their absence. 


190 The Green Island. 

Reginald and Joseph had now much busi- 
ness upon their hands; Joseph remembered 
he had got Colombe’s cage to mend, and set 
to work at once, but was called away before 
his task was completed, and the consequence 
was that he forgot it altogether. Colombe, 
however, was never at a loss for a bough to 
rest upon. 

The next day was rather a day of sadness, 
for Reginald and Joseph were to embark for 
Lima the following morning; rejoiced as 
they indeed were, they could not, without a 
pang, tear themselves away from the familiar 
associations which surrounded them. 

And the hoped for, yet dreaded morrow, 
came. Agnes, with her husband, watched 
their embarkation, and remained on the 
beach as long as the ship was in sight. 

Soon after Reginald had lost sight of his 
island home, a recollection flashed upon his 
mind, that brought with it no small share 
of uneasiness ; in their haste Colombe had 
been forgotten. 

“ Poor Colombe !” he exclaimed. “Joseph, 
we have forgotten her !” 

The Indian boy started up, his eyes filled 


The^ Green IsUuid. 19 1 

with tears, looking as if he would spring 
into the sea and swim back for her. 

Colombe, however, was perfectly safe, for 
if her friends in their hurry had forgotten 
her, she had by no means forgotten them, 
and, like a discreet bird, (which she cer- 
tainly was) seeing how things were going on, 
and not finding her cage where it usually 
hung, she had lost no time in winging her 
way after Reginald and Joseph to the shore, 
and the moment after Reginald uttered her 
name, the faithful dove, who was quietly 
perched in tlic rigging just over his head, 
llew down and alighted on his arm, cooing 
sweetly and joyfully to testify her happiness 
and the confidence she reposed in his affec- 
tion. Reginald and Joseph loaded her with 
caresses, and a few moments had sufficed 
to make them contented and happy. 

The voyage to Lima proved a prosperous 
one. Blessed by Heaven with favoring 
gales, they reached that port in safety; 
and Father de Tracy, with his compan- 
ions, Reginald, Joseph, and Colombe, pro- 
ceeded to the hospitable mansion of thq 
generous merchant before referred to, where 


192 


The Green Island. 


they remained till arrangements were made 
for their admission into a house belonging 
to the Society of Jesus. ^ When they removed 
thither, Colombe was not left behind, and 
the-^entle bird passed the remainder of’ her 
well spent life in security and peace. 


CONCLUSION. 

^^WELVE years had passed away. 

Eustace and Gertrude had received 
a letter from Reginald, conveying 
the glad tidings of his safety and 
his abode in the religious house, solic t- 
ing their prayers, and concluding with a 
hope that, if it pleased Heaven, he might 
yet have the happiness of seeing them again. 
Philip and Mildred Stanley also had heard 
from their long absent son, and received a 
promise that, if all things went on well, he 
would visit England soon. 

Three more years elapsed, and then came 
the long delayed, long expected hour, when 
Eustace and Gertrude de Tracy were 
blessed by heaven with the happiness of 


W 


The Green Island, 


193 


beholding again their long lost and beloved 
son, now Father Reginald de Tracy. He 
was accompanied by Hubert Stanley, and 
the parents . of both were once more made 
happy. p 

Father Reginald de Tracy remained in 
England for some months, when arrange- 
ments were made that Eustace and Gertrude 
should return with him to Lima, where (their 
means being sufficient for their maintenance,) 
they could pass the remainder of their lives 
in content and happiness. 

Philip Stanley and his wife, satisfied with 
having once more seen their son, felt no 
Vvish for a long sea voyage, and saw him re- 
embark with Father Reginald and his family, 
cheering themselves with the hope of his 
future return. When the ship was no longer 
in sight, they returned contentedly to their 
home, to pass the remainder of their days 
in relating and talking over to their friends 
and neighbors the adventures and hair- 
breadth escapes of their son, which they did 
not fail to magnify from every point of view, 
to the utmost of their power. It is but just, 
however, to say that they never forgot the 


194 


The Gree?i Island. 


debt of gratitude they owed to God and His 
glorious Mother. 

The once little Indian boy Joseph, now a 
fine intelligent young man, was performing 
his novitiate in the house to which his friend 
Father Reginald belonged, and he was 
amongst the first to congratulate him on his 
return from England, and on the safe arrival 
of his venerable parents in the New World. 
After a residence of some years of unruffled 
tranquility, the latter resigned their souls into 
the hands of their Creator, and it was no small 
consolation in their dying moments, that 
from Father Reginald they received the 
last rites of Holy Church. Their departure 
was happy and peaceful, “ Jesus, Mary, and 
Joseph,” they sighed with their latest breath. 

Time rolled on — Father Reginald dc 
Tracy was advanced in years, when one day 
an old man, accompanied by three youths, 
arrived at the gate of the house, and requested 
to see the Father Rector, at that time none 
other than Reginald himself, to whose 
presence they were immediately conducted. 
He at once recognized in the eldest of the 
visitors, his old friend, Hubert Stanley. 


The G^'een Island. 


195 


The object of his unexpected visit was soon 
explained. His wife Mariana was dead. 
She had left him three sons who had profited 
so well under the care and instruction of the 
good Black Robe stationed on their island, 
that they had obtained their father’s consent 
to their wishes, and he was come to offer 
them to the Society of Jesus, stipulating only 
for himself, that he might be admitted as 
an humble lay-brother of the community. 
His petition was granted, and the evening 
of his life was passed in tranquility and 
peace. 

When any temptation assailed him, or any 
spiritual danger threatened, one prayer rose 
most constantly to his lips. It was that 
which had once before stood him in good 
stead at his utmost need — “Mother of 
Mercy, help.” 









i 



























LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 






